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Gaming => General Gaming Discussion => Topic started by: Sharky on December 29, 2015, 07:31:37 am

Title: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on December 29, 2015, 07:31:37 am
(http://i.imgur.com/FKhSa3b.jpg)
Above: The official '25th Anniversary' logo released today, 29th of DEC 2015


This topic is for all Sonic the Hedgehog 25th Anniversary news and discussion.


The 25th Anniversary Game
What we know is the 25th anniversary game has been in development for quite a while... And that's about it so far. It is heavily rumoured, (and supported by the logo and anniversary figure prototype) that the game will feature Classic Sonic, either along side Modern Sonic or alone. It is fair to assume this game will be a multiplatform title. Nothing else is known about the game so far.


Other Sonic Games in 2016
In 2016 we will also see the release of the latest Mario and Sonic Olympics game for Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Wii U as well as Sonic Boom: Fire and Ice for Nintendo 3DS.

Sonic Boom: Fire and Ice was pushed into 2016 for quality assurance reasons, let's hope the developers are up to task.

Comic Books
(N/A Coming Soon)

Concerts
-SEGA Symphonic Concert announcement for July 2016.
-Sonic Adventure Music Experience Concert for April 2nd.

Merchandise/Collectibles
-25th anniversary Sonic figure
(http://segabits.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/13726_10153043565971732_8727070703512831758_n1.png)



Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Phantasos on December 29, 2015, 08:18:38 am
Neat. Haven't really cared about Sonic since Generations but this seems like an optimistic start.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on December 29, 2015, 08:35:08 am
Neat. Haven't really cared about Sonic since Generations but this seems like an optimistic start.

Me neither really, but for this I am feeling cautiously optimistic... Apart from Racing Transformed, that was incredible.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: FlareHabanero on December 29, 2015, 08:39:11 am
I'm not enthusiastic when all we have are Mario & Sonic and Sonic Boom to work off on. The latter we barely know anything about.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on December 29, 2015, 09:08:37 am
Sharky, where did you find that logo?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on December 29, 2015, 09:14:28 am
Sharky, where did you find that logo?

It's from the SEGA Japan twitter, posted a few hours ago.

https://twitter.com/sonic20th/status/681773864544673792
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on December 29, 2015, 09:15:59 am
It's from the SEGA Japan twitter, posted a few hours ago.

https://twitter.com/sonic20th/status/681773864544673792

Nice! I notice his eyes are not green. Wonder why some were reporting the logo had classic Sonic with green eyes?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on December 29, 2015, 09:29:56 am
On the same boat as Sharky on this. Ignoring Boom as it wasn't by the same team nor aimed at the same demographic, think the Sonic franchise has found fresh life recently. Unleashed wasn't quite there, but they certainly found something, Generations refined it and the general consensus had it down as great and although SLW wasn't for me due to feeling like a bunch of prototype mechanics, It did have some great direction for the titles.

After seeing the Saturn design for Sonic, I really hope they follow that look. That's the best "modern" Sonic I've seen.

Going by the official logo, I'm tempted to say a remake of some sort...
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on December 29, 2015, 09:32:19 am
Nice! I notice his eyes are not green. Wonder why some were reporting the logo had classic Sonic with green eyes?

Who knows, either someone is lying (incredibly likely) or SEGA isn't ready to show that logo off yet. I'm going with lying for now...
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: TimmiT on December 29, 2015, 10:23:25 am
Nice! I notice his eyes are not green. Wonder why some were reporting the logo had classic Sonic with green eyes?
Someone in Japan tweeted something about a logo with green eyes, then someone translated it using Google Translate or something and tweeted that a "source" told him that the logo had classic Sonic with green eyes.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Phantasos on December 29, 2015, 11:01:56 am
Me neither really, but for this I am feeling cautiously optimistic... Apart from Racing Transformed, that was incredible.

Racing Transformed was fucking amazing but it wasn't a sonic game.

They just need to make Generations 2 with different levels and better physics for the classic levels. Badaboom, automatic good game.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Pao on December 29, 2015, 12:10:55 pm
I liked that quote a few months ago:
Quote
“SEGA has publicly apologised to the fans as the quality of console games in the Sonic franchise hasn’t been acceptable over recent years. It’s been tough translating that iconic side scrolling 2D experience from the 90s into 3D but Sonic is still huge for us so the new games will be more inspired by how it played in its heyday.”
http://www.sonicstadium.org/2015/10/sega-hints-at-heyday-inspired-sonic-future/

I'm hoping the " new games will be more inspired by how it played in its heyday" line means the next game will be more of a 3D platformer than Generations/Colors.   Both of these games had platforming but it was on a 2D plane most of the time... When it switches to a 3D perspective, you usually just speed up and avoid obstacles.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Radrappy on December 29, 2015, 01:34:23 pm
I liked that quote a few months ago:http://www.sonicstadium.org/2015/10/sega-hints-at-heyday-inspired-sonic-future/

I'm hoping the " new games will be more inspired by how it played in its heyday" line means the next game will be more of a 3D platformer than Generations/Colors.   Both of these games had platforming but it was on a 2D plane most of the time... When it switches to a 3D perspective, you usually just speed up and avoid obstacles.

or.  or it could mean they're finally giving up on 3d gameplay completely.  How would people feel about that?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Aki-at on December 29, 2015, 04:30:31 pm
or.  or it could mean they're finally giving up on 3d gameplay completely.  How would people feel about that?
or.  or it could mean they're finally giving up on 3d gameplay completely.  How would people feel about that?

Horrible for me but I guess a good idea in the long run.

The way I see it is we have 4 or 5 great 2D Sonic games that can stand the test of time and we have 0 3D Sonic games. By which I don't mean to disrespect the recent good ones but they'd never be on a list of best games ever from me.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on December 29, 2015, 04:42:17 pm
Doubt they'll abandon 3D but I cant imagine how that quote Pao posted means they'll do more 3D stuff sounds like they're saying they'll go back to their roots.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on December 29, 2015, 04:57:41 pm
That could be interpreted in many different ways really. I don't think they'll abandon 3D, but adjust the gameplay itself to fit in with the older Sonic style.

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Radrappy on December 29, 2015, 05:39:56 pm
Horrible for me but I guess a good idea in the long run.

The way I see it is we have 4 or 5 great 2D Sonic games that can stand the test of time and we have 0 3D Sonic games. By which I don't mean to disrespect the recent good ones but they'd never be on a list of best games ever from me.

I feel the same way.  I like Colors/Generations but I still have trouble recommending them to non-fans. 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Nameless 24 on December 29, 2015, 05:54:27 pm
I hope they have something cool to show us.


I wouldn't mind a 3D Metroidvania styled game, only the levels all connect to one another and you could utilise Sonic, Tails and Knuckles' abilities.


Although that'd sacrifice the speedy aspect of Sonic, I think the platforming could be fun again with a open world like mechanic.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: George on December 29, 2015, 06:17:05 pm
RIP 3D Gameplay. Finally lets get 2D.

I hope it means that they will now make classic Sonic focused games with only 2D gameplay and also 3D/2D Sonic Generations with 'green eyed' but I doubt it. Works with Nintendo, they have a branding for the 2D games and a branding for the 3D ones. Even a branding for their RPG etc.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Radrappy on December 29, 2015, 06:46:04 pm
I hope they have something cool to show us.


I wouldn't mind a 3D Metroidvania styled game, only the levels all connect to one another and you could utilise Sonic, Tails and Knuckles' abilities.


Although that'd sacrifice the speedy aspect of Sonic, I think the platforming could be fun again with a open world like mechanic.

I didn't get a chance to play sonic boom 3ds, but wasn't that exactly what that game was?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on December 29, 2015, 08:08:56 pm
I didn't get a chance to play sonic boom 3ds, but wasn't that exactly what that game was?

Yeah, that was pretty much what Shattered Crystal was. It wasn't the best game, but I'll admit to liking it more than Lost World 3DS and the developer had a good concept. They just didn't have the dev time that SEGA should have allowed. I think with the proper development time, Sanzaru could make a good game.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Ben on December 29, 2015, 10:09:48 pm
RIP 3D Gameplay. Finally lets get 2D.

I hope it means that they will now make classic Sonic focused games with only 2D gameplay and also 3D/2D Sonic Generations with 'green eyed' but I doubt it. Works with Nintendo, they have a branding for the 2D games and a branding for the 3D ones. Even a branding for their RPG etc.

SonicTeam hasn't shown that they have the ability to evolve Sonic's 2D gameplay (as seen by the failed Sonic the Hedgehog 4) so I think that tasking them to just focus on 2D is almost a scary prospect.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Pao on December 30, 2015, 12:58:03 am
Doubt they'll abandon 3D but I cant imagine how that quote Pao posted means they'll do more 3D stuff sounds like they're saying they'll go back to their roots.
Here's my line of thought when I read that quote:

"It's been tough translating the classic Sonic experience from the 90s into 3D" >>> They recognize that their 3D Sonic formulas didn't capture what made the classics special.

"the new games will be more inspired by how it played in its heyday." >>> The new games will be inspired by classic Sonic's formula. (Perhaps more platforming and less boosting).

I can't believe they would refrain from releasing a Sonic game for more than 2 years and then do a 2D title... Not only it would be far-fetched, but it would disappoint me greatly.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on December 30, 2015, 06:17:02 am
Here's my line of thought when I read that quote:

"It's been tough translating the classic Sonic experience from the 90s into 3D" >>> They recognize that their 3D Sonic formulas didn't capture what made the classics special.

"the new games will be more inspired by how it played in its heyday." >>> The new games will be inspired by classic Sonic's formula. (Perhaps more platforming and less boosting).

I can't believe they would refrain from releasing a Sonic game for more than 2 years and then do a 2D title... Not only it would be far-fetched, but it would disappoint me greatly.

The problem with Sonic in a nutshell. People expect different things from a Sonic game.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on December 30, 2015, 08:52:19 am
SonicTeam hasn't shown that they have the ability to evolve Sonic's 2D gameplay (as seen by the failed Sonic the Hedgehog 4) so I think that tasking them to just focus on 2D is almost a scary prospect.

From what I have heard, though I don't know if its true. Sonic 4 was originally going to be a mobile game, not called Sonic 4. It's a fact that it was (old) SEGA of America which pushed for it to be called Sonic 4. It's cheaply made so I feel like there is probably some truth to it. I wouldn't use Sonic 4 as a test for what Sonic Team can do with 2D... There are plenty of 2D sections in Sonic Colours, Generations that are far far better.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Aki-at on December 30, 2015, 09:46:25 am
From what I have heard, though I don't know if its true. Sonic 4 was originally going to be a mobile game, not called Sonic 4. It's a fact that it was (old) SEGA of America which pushed for it to be called Sonic 4. It's cheaply made so I feel like there is probably some truth to it. I wouldn't use Sonic 4 as a test for what Sonic Team can do with 2D... There are plenty of 2D sections in Sonic Colours, Generations that are far far better.

Besides it was Dimps who developed it. Colours, Generations and Lost World are a better representation of their work.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: pirovash88 on December 30, 2015, 12:22:36 pm
Could care less what his eye color is, i just want another great Sonic game. I really enjoyed Generations, but that might be because of the nostalgic factor the game utilized.

If this turns out to be Generations 2, i'd be thoroughly excited.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on December 30, 2015, 05:23:59 pm
Sharky's right. Sonic 4 was intended to be a on the cheap XBLA/PSN/iOS game with no ties to the original Genesis games. It wasn't going to be Sonic The Hedgehog 4. It was just going to be Sonic (Insert word here) akin to Rush or Advance. But SEGA of America did indeed push for the tie to the Genesis games to give it more cred and the potential for more coverage in the media.

---

But yeah, if we want a true feel for what Sonic Team proper can do, just look to Sonic Generations 2D stages. I would love a game that was all in that style.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: FlareHabanero on December 30, 2015, 05:59:47 pm
Apparently there's rumors that a second Sonic Team title is in the works along with the already mentioned Sonic title they're teasing. Specifically it mentions it's gonna be a smaller scale game that may not be a Sonic title. If it is a Sonic title it might be a mobile game or 3DS title, but personally with the way it's described it sounds like another Puyo Puyo game.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on December 30, 2015, 06:03:41 pm
Apparently there's rumors that a second Sonic Team title is in the works along with the already mentioned Sonic title they're teasing. Specifically it mentions it's gonna be a smaller scale game that may not be a Sonic title. If it is a Sonic title it might be a mobile game or 3DS title, but personally with the way it's described it sounds like another Puyo Puyo game.

Cool, can you provide a source for the rumour?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: FlareHabanero on December 30, 2015, 06:06:26 pm
Cool, can you provide a source for the rumour?

http://www.tssznews.com/2015/12/30/source-at-least-2-sonic-team-titles-intended-for-2016/ (http://www.tssznews.com/2015/12/30/source-at-least-2-sonic-team-titles-intended-for-2016/)


Take it with a grain of salt since it's purely rumors, and that site has had rumors wrong in the past.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on December 30, 2015, 06:14:27 pm
http://www.tssznews.com/2015/12/30/source-at-least-2-sonic-team-titles-intended-for-2016/ (http://www.tssznews.com/2015/12/30/source-at-least-2-sonic-team-titles-intended-for-2016/)


Take it with a grain of salt since it's purely rumors, and that site has had rumors wrong in the past.

Thanks and don't worry, I've worked on SEGA sites for long enough to take literally everything with a grain of salt. ;p
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on December 30, 2015, 06:39:00 pm
Thanks and don't worry, I've worked on SEGA sites for long enough to take literally everything with a grain of salt. ;p

Okay so, I've read it and while there are some things in there that are deffo true, like SEGA Europe being in charge of the Sonic Lost World port. Most of them are either public knowledge or easily guessed so possibly being used to give credit to the rumour. I'd say none of those things mentioned are far fetched or out of the question... It's pretty likely Sonic Team do have another game in the works whether this source is real or not.

I'm more interested in the other 'rumour' that SEGA Europe are planning to ramp up their Steam ports. I believe this is probably true but it's been hinted at recently.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Pao on December 30, 2015, 06:57:36 pm
If that rumor is legit, then the anniversary game had ambitious ideas that PS3/360 couldn't realize, which means it's likely not a 2D Platformer.

Wasn't TSSZ looked down upon by the Sonic community for bad track record with rumors, though? 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: FlareHabanero on December 30, 2015, 07:04:55 pm
Wasn't TSSZ looked down upon by the Sonic community for bad track record with rumors, though?
No idea.


It doesn't mention anything obscure like that one rumor about a Sonic Dimensions game for the Wii U with the multicolored Sonic clones, so there's that.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on December 30, 2015, 07:07:00 pm
TSSZ under Tristan was garbage. The new guys behind the site are not assholes like Tristan was, but I wouldn't say they are really in the know. They get news tips via email just like any other fan site. Thing is. TSSZ acts on rumors more than most.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: George on December 30, 2015, 11:24:03 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9acQREOQ5Y&feature=youtu.be

We did a video recap of some of the stuff shown off at the Japanese event 'Sonic Fan Event 2015', including talks on the newly shown off logo.

Watch me not know that silver anniversary = 25 years.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Happy Cat on December 31, 2015, 01:20:51 am
Say what you will about the man in charge of Sonic, Iizuka, but he sure knows how to keep people never knowing what he's going to do with Sonic next. Most other companies you can predict what's going to happen with their franchises, but not Sonic. That is something I find to enjoy and makes Sonic anniversaries all the more exciting. Iizuka can do some pretty insanes stuff sometimes. Never know what to expect.


(https://41.media.tumblr.com/1b2e8b7dd89165539b57231af03a6aa1/tumblr_mjwe6uGge21qlj42ao1_500.jpg)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Radrappy on December 31, 2015, 03:33:52 am
Say what you will about the man in charge of Sonic, Iizuka, but he sure knows how to keep people never knowing what he's going to do with Sonic next. Most other companies you can predict what's going to happen with their franchises, but not Sonic. That is something I find to enjoy and makes Sonic anniversaries all the more exciting. Iizuka can do some pretty insanes stuff sometimes. Never know what to expect.


(https://41.media.tumblr.com/1b2e8b7dd89165539b57231af03a6aa1/tumblr_mjwe6uGge21qlj42ao1_500.jpg)

Thats one way to look at it. Another would be that this man has no idea what hes doing and has been slowly murdering the franchise for years.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on December 31, 2015, 04:06:41 am
Probably that.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: segafan1984 on December 31, 2015, 10:01:09 am
Thats one way to look at it. Another would be that this man has no idea what hes doing and has been slowly murdering the franchise for years.

I disagree. It wasn't until 2010 when he became the head of Sonic Team, and that's when we had games like Sonic 4, Colors, Generations, and Lost World. The series has different people working on them before that, so it's not fair to fully blame him for other people fuck ups.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on December 31, 2015, 10:34:15 am
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't he leave after Sonic 06?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: segafan1984 on December 31, 2015, 11:54:26 am
I think that was Yuji Naka.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Radrappy on December 31, 2015, 12:40:52 pm
I disagree. It wasn't until 2010 when he became the head of Sonic Team, and that's when we had games like Sonic 4, Colors, Generations, and Lost World. The series has different people working on them before that, so it's not fair to fully blame him for other people fuck ups.

Sorry, but the man who directed Shadow the hedgehog and Journey of Dreams should not be in charge of anything.  His ideas are always way too ambitious and his quality control is always way too loose.  This can been seen as early as Sa2 and Heroes as well.  Plus, anytime he's interviewed he spouts absolute nonsense.  I would argue that it's his prioritizing of cinematics and dynamic camera angles in Sa1 that set the franchise on the terrible path it went on for the next ten years.  He should have always focused on a technically tight, solid gameplay design that could be built upon in future games.  Instead we get sloppy title after sloppy title.  Colors and Gens for all their successes still have sloppy and unrefined gameplay.


I believe he even once said in an interview that he likes to change up the gameplay of Sonic titles so that people never got bored.  If that's true, he's pretty much responsible for all of our current woes.   


EDIT:  found the interview http://www.sonicretro.org/2013/08/sos-2013-takashi-iizuka-interview/


Quote
In Colours and Generations, both games blended the forward-view gameplay with the side-view gameplay, often in the same stage.  It was solidified as a play style and really worked quite well.  But if we carried on like this for the next 20 years we wouldn't be providing a new experience to the users, and we wanted to carry on innovating and providing new experiences for players, so we wanted to really challenge ourselves to do something new and be innovative.

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: segafan1984 on December 31, 2015, 01:27:36 pm
Sorry, but the man who directed Shadow the hedgehog and Journey of Dreams should not be in charge of anything.  His ideas are always way too ambitious and his quality control is always way too loose.  This can been seen as early as Sa2 and Heroes as well.  Plus, anytime he's interviewed he spouts absolute nonsense.  I would argue that it's his prioritizing of cinematics and dynamic camera angles in Sa1 that set the franchise on the terrible path it went on for the next ten years.  He should have always focused on a technically tight, solid gameplay design that could be built upon in future games.  Instead we get sloppy title after sloppy title.  Colors and Gens for all their successes still have sloppy and unrefined gameplay.


I believe he even once said in an interview that he likes to change up the gameplay of Sonic titles so that people never got bored.  If that's true, he's pretty much responsible for all of our current woes.   


EDIT:  found the interview http://www.sonicretro.org/2013/08/sos-2013-takashi-iizuka-interview/ (http://www.sonicretro.org/2013/08/sos-2013-takashi-iizuka-interview/)


Well it's kinda true that fans gets bored when they try to keep things more consistent (even calling Colors and Gens glorified dlc packs for Unleashed). After Colors and Generations, fans wants SEGA to get rid of the boost gameplay and wanted a Sonic game with more platforming. I don't know what they're planning to do next after Lost World.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on December 31, 2015, 01:42:51 pm
"Fans" don't know what they want. If the next Sonic game is more platforming and less/no boost, I guarantee fans will scream they want boost back.

The idea in adventure was solid enough. A 3D platforming experience that gives a deeper narrative game to the Sonic universe. However, times have changed and 3D platforming in that style is no longer that popular. Back in the 90s, you could trip over the amount flying around. But in the 00s, they started to wear thin and now we have...well, Mario. That's about it. Even Rare Software have fallen victim to this. Other devs have mashed genres together to make something different, but that's about it.

SEGA clinged into that style for a while and then started experimenting in the fairy tales Wii games. We then got Unleashed and hit some success. Colours and Generations quickly followed and then we saw a change again in SLW. SLW features free running into the Sonic gameplay...



Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: segafan1984 on December 31, 2015, 01:46:51 pm
Yep. Either that or 2D gameplay, Adventure gameplay, etc.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: George on December 31, 2015, 04:13:19 pm
Yeah, I think they need to take a 'Generational approach' to the franchise. As in, if you will be making this a yearly/biyearly thing, have a plan. Mario does. Here is how they approach this: Mario 3D World, New Super Mario Bros, Super Mario Maker, etc.

While I do think that Mario franchise has sorta also peaked after Galaxy 2, thats because the team hasn't made a 'main franchise title' in that long, but I don't feel like the games they did between now and Galaxy 2 where all trash. I feel like their all each their own tiny experiences and I don't have that 'Well, that wasn't as good as Galaxy 2' taste in my mouth due to the game NOT trying to be Galaxy 2.

That's the thing with Sonic, the side games are trying to be a full game and turn out not to be of high quality. Why are you funding 20+ million for Boom games that are terrible? Get a fraction of that money and get Sumo to do another Sonic & SEGA Racing title. Am I crazy here?

Have a 5 year plan, a head of time, with 2 year + development cycles on each game that spans different genres. SEGA already hit the kart market and did well, I see no reason to stop that.

I think the issue has been, with Sonic, the lack of supervision. It feels like SEGA just expects games done when they say it and wouldn't delay them in the past. Look at Sonic the Hedgehog 2006, that shit needed like another year in development. Would it have been amazing? Nah, but it would have been easier to digest and the people that ate up Sonic Adventure 2 would have loved it.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on December 31, 2015, 05:36:45 pm
I have to agree with that approach. If you look at the Mario titles, the big titles only consist of the older games, Mario64, Sunshine, Galaxy 1,2 and SM3DW. The rest are all away from that and are smaller titles.

With Sonic though, it's less clear what's part of the main series and what isn't due to the amount of different styles between games.

If I could, I'd have the main Sonic games as just this:

Sonic 1-3
Sonic Colours
Sonic Generations

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on December 31, 2015, 05:54:51 pm
Huh, just found this on YouTube and I think it does a fairly good job at explaining Sonic games: https://youtu.be/7mm5sxU4PKo
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Pao on December 31, 2015, 09:04:01 pm
Thoughts on this formula? 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rr52--OpoyA

It's a fan game, and there's a demo out there. I tried it, and aside from imprecise movement and the (sometimes) awkward camera angles, it felt fun to play.  I had more fun with this than Lost World (Which I played this year on PC).   It looks Mario-esque in pacing and level design, but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing.  More 3D platforming is what's missing from the 3D Sonic games since SA2. 

It could use a little more speed, though.

I seriously can't remember the last time Sonic felt good to move around with in 3D... Just running in Generations/Unleashed has me bumping into walls, and it's some times torture to try and jump above a ledge in Lost World.

Above all else, I think they should nail the controls and movements in the next 3D Sonic game.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Aki-at on December 31, 2015, 09:35:05 pm
I thought Sonic Adventure Sonic was the perfect speed, I need to go play that game again but I felt his standard speed and movement was for the most part good and it shows on stages like Lost World. Problem is from that point on Sonic Team wanted to make him even faster which I felt took away from the platforming essence of the series (But I will admit there are plenty of fans of the boost formula)

Anyway I love Chisado's stuff but I don't feel this is what I want for the next Sonic game, the level design for one is not for me. Too flat and need more slopes, I dislike the general camera angle and finally hate how much "gap" there is in the world.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Happy Cat on January 01, 2016, 01:17:05 am
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't he leave after Sonic 06?

Nah, he's still here. He's even credited with helping with the level design in Sonic 2006

Quote
Sonic is still hugely popular, but Sonic games of the last several years have been less well received than those from, say, 15 years ago. Why do you think that is?

Iizuka: So originally it was more or less the same team working on all the different Sonic titles, but after a few years, for various reasons, we started to delegate Sonic games to different groups of people.

And everyone in the office has their own idea of what Sonic should be, so we started to see slightly varied, slightly different directions of Sonic games.

I was conscious of this, so I'm now back with full responsibility of all things Sonic. I have control over the direction of not just Sonic Generations, but all the Sonic titles that we will develop in the future.

So I have more control, and hopefully this will provide better appearances for future titles.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:psHUpZOhB9sJ:www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/3DS/Sonic%2BGenerations/news.asp%3Fc%3D32963+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on January 01, 2016, 06:03:34 am
Quote
Thats one way to look at it. Another would be that this man has no idea what hes doing and has been slowly murdering the franchise for years


I think he's the man that made the best SONIC with Sonic Adv, the man that gave us NiGHTS. He's a great talent and Sonic Team are one of the best Teams inside SEGA Japan and at least have some decent tech pipe lines . I'll expect the next Sonic to be amazing and look stunning  myself.



Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 01, 2016, 10:04:14 am
Thoughts on this formula? 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rr52--OpoyA

It's a fan game, and there's a demo out there. I tried it, and aside from imprecise movement and the (sometimes) awkward camera angles, it felt fun to play.  I had more fun with this than Lost World (Which I played this year on PC).   It looks Mario-esque in pacing and level design, but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing.  More 3D platforming is what's missing from the 3D Sonic games since SA2. 

It could use a little more speed, though.

I seriously can't remember the last time Sonic felt good to move around with in 3D... Just running in Generations/Unleashed has me bumping into walls, and it's some times torture to try and jump above a ledge in Lost World.

Above all else, I think they should nail the controls and movements in the next 3D Sonic game.

That's certainly not a bad effort from a fan and he deserves credit for it. However, I don't think that's the type of game Sonic should look at being. It feels a bit like the isometric Sonic 3D in design.

I think, for me anyway, Generations' 3D design was great. Multiple paths, hidden paths, collectables etc. I'd lose the almost constant boost however and have speed built up through momentum or a short boost like similar to what the spin dash/peel out did.

As said above, when trying to take it slow, Sonic seems to almost fight you in Generations as the controls aren't designed for slow and steady. This is a bit of an issue. When moving slow, you want Sonic to be precise, but at speed, you need Sonic to be less demanding due to everything moving too fast around you. So, here's how I'd tackle it.

I'd program Sonic to control in two different ways. When going slow, Sonic's controls should be precise like the adventure series, but once you start moving and building speed, a function within' the characters programming checks to see how fast he's going. If he's hit his top speed (or close to), the controls become like Generations. Once his speeds decreases to a point, the controls revert to adventure and become more percise.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Radrappy on January 01, 2016, 12:46:16 pm
I actually, really quite like that video!  Thanks for sharing. 

I think the fixed isometric camera angle and slower run speed could do wonders for this series.  I've heard others suggest the super mario 3d world route would be the way to go and didn't really pay them any heed but after seeing this I think it could really work.  The amazing thing is that with this camera you can actually SEE OBSTACLES LONG BEFORE YOU HIT THEM.  That's something that a game like Generations struggled severely with.  The camera is SO close to the player and the movement speed is SO fast that you are almost guaranteed to hit shit on your first play through. 

I think people need to disregard this whole "cinematic" approach to game design when it comes to Sonic.  It's not about having cool speed runs it's about have a working functional game that doesn't make you want to through the controller out the window.   
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Trippled on January 01, 2016, 04:54:40 pm
Well in that sense the 2D games also have a problem with not seeing objects ahead of time.

If it isn't cinematic, it doesnt feel as fast, Id say.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Radrappy on January 01, 2016, 05:19:45 pm
Well in that sense the 2D games also have a problem with not seeing objects ahead of time.

If it isn't cinematic, it doesnt feel as fast, Id say.

The 2d games give you as much time as this proof of concept video does.  Functionally, a 2d game lays everything out in front of you as it comes towards you on the screen and you can time your jumps/movements accordingly.  In 3d space this is much more challenging, doubly so if the camera functions like it does in gens/unleashed at the speed you are going at.  It's compounded further by the boost and the blur effect that fills the screen.


All I want is a game that gives you fair warning when shit is heading your way.  I suppose what's "fair" is certainly up for debate. 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: FlareHabanero on January 01, 2016, 06:50:11 pm
An anniversary should be a time for celebration, but all I see is fear and desperation for Sonic's future. I can't be the only person that get's that impression. I know several people that are clinging onto Sonic's 25th anniversary in hopes that Sonic can make a comeback after how rocky things got in recent years.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Trippled on January 01, 2016, 07:36:11 pm
The 2d games give you as much time as this proof of concept video does.  Functionally, a 2d game lays everything out in front of you as it comes towards you on the screen and you can time your jumps/movements accordingly.  In 3d space this is much more challenging, doubly so if the camera functions like it does in gens/unleashed at the speed you are going at.  It's compounded further by the boost and the blur effect that fills the screen.
 

Still feel it pretty easy to bump into stuff in the 2d games without memorization.

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: segafan1984 on January 01, 2016, 08:17:03 pm
An anniversary should be a time for celebration, but all I see is fear and desperation for Sonic's future. I can't be the only person that get's that impression. I know several people that are clinging onto Sonic's 25th anniversary in hopes that Sonic can make a comeback after how rocky things got in recent years.


I think people are getting tired of Sonic Boom at this point. I think a lot of them want either C.Sonic or M.Sonic back and they're clinging onto the 25th anniversary game in hopes for the next main series title (we know that Fire and Ice is also coming out but it will be greatly overshadowed by the anniversary game)..
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 02, 2016, 10:43:06 am
I'm not a fan of Boom as I've said before. The character designs are just bad and although it's harmless fun, I don't particularly like how the TV show has turned everything into a comedy.

Boom is targeted at little kids and that's all. This, I feel, is a silly move by SEGA. Surely making a strong title like Sonic for everyone would be better?

Even if the 25th isn't that good, I don't think I fear for its future as such. I just wish SEGA would stop messing around where it isn't needed and changed what did.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on January 02, 2016, 10:45:51 am
Im not sure if Fire and Ice is gonna do well for the 3DS. The audience that watches the tv show is I imagine kinda young. A mobile game like sonic dash 2 suits a lot better for them.

Personally im not interested in that game at all. Even if it ends up being a fun game to play, im not sure if i wanna play a sonic boom game. Sure i'll watch a few episodes, but ive got no connection with the series whatsoever.. This is just me, but I feel like they may have made an estimation error. A regular looking sonic game would get a lot more interest on a platform with enthousiasts. Its kind of sad really. The only 2d sonic game the 3DS got is that average 3DS version of sonic generation. Every other nintendo handheld got decent games in comparison. Wish they would just go back to making things like the sonic advance games but then in 2.5D
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Radrappy on January 02, 2016, 12:59:55 pm
I'm not a fan of Boom as I've said before. The character designs are just bad and although it's harmless fun, I don't particularly like how the TV show has turned everything into a comedy.

Boom is targeted at little kids and that's all. This, I feel, is a silly move by SEGA. Surely making a strong title like Sonic for everyone would be better?

Even if the 25th isn't that good, I don't think I fear for its future as such. I just wish SEGA would stop messing around where it isn't needed and changed what did.

because the games have been slipping in sales and public interest waning over the years.  Boom is a smart attempt to tap into a huge market of kids sitting at home who have no idea who the character even is.  It's just a shame the game tie ins were so terrible. 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 02, 2016, 01:13:10 pm
I wouldn't say it's a smart move as such. If they wanted to start afresh with Sonic, they didn't need to force a half hearted soft reboot. They could have just relaunched Sonic with new life in a tv show and better games.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Boom more of a SoA idea anyway?

Seems like SoJ/Sonic team are just ignoring it. It's been a while since I've agreed with SoJ *jumps to cover*
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: segafan1984 on January 02, 2016, 01:45:53 pm
I don't think they're ignoring it. They're just not pushing it as much as SoA.
Also, personally I don't mind the Boom designs that much anymore as long the designs are not permanent. Amy, Shadow, and Tails looks pretty much the same. Sonic is okay (it looks better then what we would've had if they used one of the earlier designs). It looks almost like his modern self but with blue arms, a brown scarf and sports tape. Eggman has the best design, and Knuckles has the most drastic design out of all the characters.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 02, 2016, 02:03:34 pm
Yeah, but most of it is pointless. The sports tape just looks dumb too. Why? Just why?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Happy Cat on January 02, 2016, 02:18:05 pm
Johnny confirmed Crush 40 is writing songs for the 25th anniversry game. Well there goes that classic theme people were assuming

he says "Might" but surely something like songs was decided on a long time ago and he just doesn't want to be the one spilling the beans officially.

https://twitter.com/MykonosFan/status/683379237282168832

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: segafan1984 on January 02, 2016, 02:22:19 pm
I'm happy with either an 2D 'classic' theme game or full 3D game.  :) 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 02, 2016, 02:31:06 pm
Johnny confirmed Crush 40 is writing songs for the 25th anniversry game. Well there goes that classic theme people were assuming

he says "Might" but surely something like songs was decided on a long time ago and he just doesn't want to be the one spilling the beans officially.

https://twitter.com/MykonosFan/status/683379237282168832



Good to hear. Crush 40 do a great job at setting the tone.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on January 02, 2016, 02:32:20 pm
Johnny confirmed Crush 40 is writing songs for the 25th anniversry game. Well there goes that classic theme people were assuming

he says "Might" but surely something like songs was decided on a long time ago and he just doesn't want to be the one spilling the beans officially.

https://twitter.com/MykonosFan/status/683379237282168832 (https://twitter.com/MykonosFan/status/683379237282168832)


Might gives me the feeling that their contribution would be very small then. Since the game has probably been in development for a while. Unless music is usually done in the final stage.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: George on January 02, 2016, 02:35:04 pm
I don't know why people are surprised that a Sonic cartoon is different from the mainland series. This has always been the case since the conception of Sonic the Hedgehog. For example those Saturday morning cartoons they had when we grew up where not like the games, it had different characters and all that. Sure the designs where still Sonic, but it was its own universe. Move forward and so did Sonic X. The only difference is this time they allowed SOA to make games based on these properties and they failed.

If those games didn't come out, I'm sure no one would care like they didn't care about Sonic X. Lets be honest, the Sonic Boom TV show is better than Sonic X.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Happy Cat on January 02, 2016, 02:39:14 pm
Might gives me the feeling that their contribution would be very small then. Since the game has probably been in development for a while. Unless music is usually done in the final stage.

Music is usually decided on early on as it sets the tone of a game. I think Johnny is just teasing/not wanting to spill the beans.

I mean SEGA did announce a Sonic Adventure music concert, Crush 40 obviously going to play a big role in the 25th anniversary game.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: George on January 02, 2016, 02:48:00 pm
I don't mind Crush 40, whatever, but I kinda want a new group to take over the Sonic music and have them debut on this. But we shall see. Its all about the finished product in the end.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on January 02, 2016, 02:54:30 pm
Music is usually decided on early on as it sets the tone of a game. I think Johnny is just teasing/not wanting to spill the beans.

I mean SEGA did announce a Sonic Adventure music concert, Crush 40 obviously going to play a big role in the 25th anniversary game.
Thanks for the clarification.

I don't mind Crush 40, whatever, but I kinda want a new group to take over the Sonic music and have them debut on this. But we shall see. Its all about the finished product in the end.
Tomoya ohtani has played a major role in all recent games. Im pretty confident he will be in this latest game too. He's also done a much better job than crush 40 in capturing that sonic music sound.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Happy Cat on January 02, 2016, 02:59:44 pm
Thanks for the clarification.
Tomoya ohtani has played a major role in all recent games. Im pretty confident he will be in this latest game too. He's also done a much better job than crush 40 in capturing that sonic music sound.

Eh, I'm not claiming to 100% correct or anything. Just speculation on my part. From how the Sonic Fan event closed, to the Sonic Adventure Music concert that was announced and now this statement from Johnny, the direction the 25th anniversary game is going to go in is becoming more clear.

Anyways, maybe the Sonic Adventure music conference will be something like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU6-76thESE
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 02, 2016, 03:13:44 pm
Thanks for the clarification.
Tomoya ohtani has played a major role in all recent games. Im pretty confident he will be in this latest game too. He's also done a much better job than crush 40 in capturing that sonic music sound.

Has he? Can't say I've noticed in anything of the recent games.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on January 02, 2016, 06:02:29 pm
Eh, I'm not claiming to 100% correct or anything. Just speculation on my part. From how the Sonic Fan event closed, to the Sonic Adventure Music concert that was announced and now this statement from Johnny, the direction the 25th anniversary game is going to go in is becoming more clear.

Anyways, maybe the Sonic Adventure music conference will be something like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU6-76thESE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU6-76thESE)
Yeah that's how I took it. It could the be the case or not. But likely its either him not wanting to spill the beans, altho I hope they dont play too big of a role personally...

Has he? Can't say I've noticed in anything of the recent games.
I think so yeah. Having said that I do like sonic adventure 1's music the most. Amazing variety and all had a really nice melody. Im pretty sure there's always a huge variety of people behind the music so that must have been why SA1's music really stands out like that. After that there was a long period where crush 40 got the lead in making music for sonic games. For sonic adventure 2 almost everything but the knuckles stages and some others, sonic heroes, shadow the hedgehog etc. For me it just started to sound way too familiar, in a bad way

I cant give all credit to Tomoya Ohtani either, together with kenichi tokoi and mariko nanba ive been very satisfied with the music. Say what you want about sonic 06 for example, but its music was really great.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Radrappy on January 02, 2016, 06:48:04 pm
Dear god please, no.  Crush 40 is just terrible.  Their songs are only enjoyable in a "it's so bad it's good" kind of way.

Ohtani and the rest of the Sonic Team sound crew are much, much better.  Sonic Colors/Unleashed/Gens had way better soundtracks than the buttrock of SA1 and SA2.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: George on January 02, 2016, 06:59:45 pm
I wouldn't mind them getting a new group to do the music. But I rather just keep Ohtani then go back to Crush 40. I agree. I wouldn't say their terrible, but their music isn't my style.

This is their most famous track:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gPBmDptqlQ

Just no. Its like a butt rock album from the 80s. I like music from that era just not that genre.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Radrappy on January 02, 2016, 07:11:40 pm
Their music is the laughing stock of the gaming community these days.  Songs like live&learn and SonicHeroes are famous now from their exposure in smash brothers and let me tell you:  it's not the good kind of famous. 


People will see their return as a return of the quality from the Adv era as well, something that is also no longer remembered fondly.  All in all, it's just an uncomfortable proposition. 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on January 02, 2016, 08:24:26 pm
I hated Crush 40 before it was cool. I've never, never liked lyrical music in Sonic games...  So rarely is it good.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Aki-at on January 02, 2016, 08:38:40 pm
I'd rather we drop vocal songs completely for Sonic games, the only good part about them is that a few of them have a half decent instrumental version (Usually always for the final boss)

But I'm not fond of Crush 40, or Jun in general. Ohtani is definitely the man for me and I've been saying he was a great musician the moment he scored Sonic Rush Adventure.

The only 2d sonic game the 3DS got is that average 3DS version of sonic generation. Every other nintendo handheld got decent games in comparison. Wish they would just go back to making things like the sonic advance games but then in 2.5D

Because from Sonic Advance onwards (Until Colours anyway) there was a steady decline in sales for handheld Sonic games.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Happy Cat on January 02, 2016, 09:37:55 pm
Just because Crush 40 is writing some vocal songs doesn't mean there can't be any other composers. Although I did enjoy Jun's modern songs in generations. Chemical Plant is so good.

Anyways, looks like SEGA striked and got Johnny's post deleted off facebook https://twitter.com/SSF1991/status/683490124139737088

Take that however you will
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on January 02, 2016, 11:26:46 pm
Ohtani is truly awesome. When I attended the Sonic Boom NYC event, meeting him was the highlight for me. I got his autograph and told the translator to tell him how great I thought his work on Space Channel 5 Part 2 was. He seemed very happy that I brought that up and he said something to the effect of being proud of that work as well.

Lost World's Honeycomb Highway is one of my favorite recent Sonic tracks.

http://youtu.be/Vr_NAR5-L8s
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Radrappy on January 02, 2016, 11:27:42 pm
Welp, my moneys on Generations 2.0 at this point.   Or a complete remake of SA1.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 03, 2016, 07:23:28 am
Welp, my moneys on Generations 2.0 at this point.   Or a complete remake of SA1.

Not a bad shout. The only other thing I could think of is if they cherry picked certain zones from the Mega Drive games and remade them into 1 game.

As for Crush 40...they have brought a memorable soundtrack to Sonic over the years, so I can't see how that's a bad thing.

When it comes to music, SEGA have always done a good job and with or without Crush 40, I'm sure they'll do a good job.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on January 03, 2016, 08:24:11 am
I don't see any indication of it being SA1 remake unless I've missed something big? I think something along the line of Generations with some changes to the formula are very likely.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 03, 2016, 08:42:38 am
D'oh, I meant I agree with Generations 2. I can't see a remake of SA though. I'm going with Sonic's 25th game being a selection of levels from the Mega Drive games remade :)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on January 03, 2016, 10:20:39 am
I've noticed on Twitter, whenever I (or George) Tweet out about Sonic's 25th we get a few people moaning about how SEGA is celebrating the anniversary instead of focusing on other franchises and I really do not understand the logic. Yes, SEGA (of America, Europe AND Japan) need to show all their franchises much more love. But it is not a trade off. Sonic is popular. Sonic sells. Sonic's 25th is a big deal. Suck it up and deal with it. Sonic is getting a proper 25th anniversary celebration.

It's not like SEGA is going to go "whelp, I really think we should ease off this 25th thing for Sonic in favor of another franchise." Let SEGA, and fans, celebrate Sonic's 25th. If anything, fans wishing SEGA were giving other franchise milestones some acknowledgement should respectfully reach out to folks like Aaron Webber and Sam Mullen and see what could be done. Sure you may have to take some matters into your own hands, but these guys care and can be very helpful. Even if it ends up being a contest giving away 3D Classics codes, with SEGA sharing some graphics on social media on the anniversary date, it's something. Simply complaining about Sonic's 25th would lead to far less.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 03, 2016, 11:10:56 am
I wonder what they mean by other franchises? Some of them just wouldn't sell that well now as times have changed or perhaps SEGA don't want to because they're not sure what to do with said title next. Crimson Dragon is the closest thing we've had to a Panzer Dragoon and it was seen as "okay" and I expect other SEGA titles would get a similar reception. Some could come back fine like Jet Set Radio, Outrun etc, but the only real way I can see some of them coming back is if they were retooled. Project Diva could be considered an evolution of Space Channel 5 for example.

If I could retool some of them mind...


Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on January 03, 2016, 11:23:37 am
I'd rather we drop vocal songs completely for Sonic games, the only good part about them is that a few of them have a half decent instrumental version (Usually always for the final boss)

But I'm not fond of Crush 40, or Jun in general. Ohtani is definitely the man for me and I've been saying he was a great musician the moment he scored Sonic Rush Adventure.

Because from Sonic Advance onwards (Until Colours anyway) there was a steady decline in sales for handheld Sonic games.
A shame really. But then again, im not sure if fire and ice is gonna set the world on fire. Its also a huge waste too because sonic generations on the 3DS had the best controls for a 2d sonic game made by sonicteam since... sonic advance 1?


I also share the sentiments with everyone about Tomoya Ohtani. He does a better Jun senoue than the man himself lol. A great example is

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vtd6mp2t_o (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vtd6mp2t_o)

And one of my favourite works of his are actually the werehog tracks in sonic unleashed.

Also a shoutout to Kenichi Tokoi. Is jun senoue even needed when we have these guys?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLb2JYMfqjw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLb2JYMfqjw)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 03, 2016, 11:58:01 am
Those do sound rather good.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: FlareHabanero on January 03, 2016, 07:01:25 pm
I've noticed on Twitter, whenever I (or George) Tweet out about Sonic's 25th we get a few people moaning about how SEGA is celebrating the anniversary instead of focusing on other franchises and I really do not understand the logic. Yes, SEGA (of America, Europe AND Japan) need to show all their franchises much more love. But it is not a trade off. Sonic is popular. Sonic sells. Sonic's 25th is a big deal. Suck it up and deal with it. Sonic is getting a proper 25th anniversary celebration.

It's not like SEGA is going to go "whelp, I really think we should ease off this 25th thing for Sonic in favor of another franchise." Let SEGA, and fans, celebrate Sonic's 25th. If anything, fans wishing SEGA were giving other franchise milestones some acknowledgement should respectfully reach out to folks like Aaron Webber and Sam Mullen and see what could be done. Sure you may have to take some matters into your own hands, but these guys care and can be very helpful. Even if it ends up being a contest giving away 3D Classics codes, with SEGA sharing some graphics on social media on the anniversary date, it's something. Simply complaining about Sonic's 25th would lead to far less.


I think what they're trying to convey is that Sonic shouldn't really be celebrated. Like, with how dismantled the community is because of the stream of games that range from mediocre to terrible, I can why people would think that. In other words, people want something else instead of being reminded of how badly the Sonic series has gotten. Granted, this wouldn't be a problem since there are other stuff being released in 2016. Puyo Puyo is also having it's 25th anniversary, there are two Valkryria Chronicles games coming out, Yakuza 6 is gonna be released, Hatsune Miku Project Diva X is gonna be released, Phantasy Star Online 2 is gonna get a PS4 version released plus the 4th episode, and whatever else is in the pipeline that hasn't been announced. The problem is that SEGA of America/Europe likes to pretend they don't exist, so for those that live outside of Japan they're gonna get the short end of the stick with a bunch of mediocre Sonic games.


I mean if Sonic fans are gonna have fun, fine. But remember that there are still problems with Sonic's 25th Anniversary that would rightfully make people uncomfortable. For Sonic fans it's a time of desperation for something good to come out of it, while for those outside of that group it's a reminder that the company relies too much on Sonic despite the bad press.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on January 03, 2016, 08:44:14 pm
Thing is though, with a milestone like the 25th anniversary, SEGA would be idiots to ignore it. And honestly, its not like the franchise is in the gutter. Sonic Boom was mediocre to terrible for sure, with the only bright spots being the comic books and the TV show (which can be hit or miss). But when it comes to the actual Sonic Team output, it hasn't been bad. Since 2011 we've had Generations, Lost World, Transformed and the Olympic Games. Of those we've had some very well received titles (Generations, Transformed), decent titles (Lost World) and the Olympic Games which improved since past releases and have been selling well thanks to the license and Mario's inclusion. On the licensing side of things, we've had some great First 4 Figures statues, Jazwares last hurrah with the brand in the form of the Generations line of toys, quirky stuff like Sonic Monopoly and the Archie Sonic comics underwent a reboot which did away with a lot of the past crap and embraced the games which lead to some great arcs (Genesis, Sonic the Fighters, Sonic/Mega Man crossovers).

So with that all in mind, I really can't label the series as being in a bad state nor can I label the games output as being mediocre to terrible. If people are still festering over the stuff in 2006... they need to get over it. It has been 10 years since then and there is a lot more to celebrate than to be down about when it comes to 25 years of Sonic.

Again, the problem is people thinking that Sonic needs to take the blame for America/Europe not embracing other franchises, though the last 6 months have seen a shift with stuff like Miku, Yakuza, and Valkyria Chronicles getting the spotlight in the West.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: segafan1984 on January 03, 2016, 09:55:44 pm
SEGA barely talk about Sonic in 2015. They gave the Sonic series a whole year break, used that time to focus on themselves and release other non-Sonic games, and waited till 2016 to announce their upcoming games. As soon as they're finally ready to talk about Sonic again, people moans about how they're not 'paying attention' to their other franchises. I'd thought they have paid attention to some of them. ???
Outside of the Boom titles, I'd thought the Main Sonic titles from Sonic Team are doing better in recent years with a few hiccups here and there. I'm cautiously optimistic about the 25th anniversary, and expecting it to be a better year for SEGA then 2014 and 2015.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Radrappy on January 03, 2016, 10:30:05 pm
two things:

a) Things aren't so bad when you take a step back, but a normal gamer has just seen two big sonic games in a row be critically panned even though SLW didn't quite deserve it imo.

b) Are they really planning on having an anniversary game every 5 years?  I'll accept it this time but if they try to have another big celebration for the 30th, it's going to start coming off as pretty tacky. 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: segafan1984 on January 03, 2016, 10:34:37 pm
Yeah, seems like it.

5th anniversary = ?
10 anniversary = Sonic Adventure 2
15th anniversary = Sonic 06
20th anniversary = Sonic Generations
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 03, 2016, 11:41:26 pm
SEGA barely talk about Sonic in 2015. They gave the Sonic series a whole year break, used that time to focus on themselves and release other non-Sonic games, and waited till 2016 to announce their upcoming games. As soon as they're finally ready to talk about Sonic again, people moans about how they're not 'paying attention' to their other franchises. I'd thought they have paid attention to some of them. ???
Outside of the Boom titles, I'd thought the Main Sonic titles from Sonic Team are doing better in recent years with a few hiccups here and there. I'm cautiously optimistic about the 25th anniversary, and expecting it to be a better year for SEGA then 2014 and 2015.

We don't know what the Sonic Team are cooking, but it's pretty clear at this point that they've been working hard on this next title. I'm quietly optimistic about it.

It could be a refined Generations 2 for all we know, but that would still be great.

As for the gaming community as a whole, I try to distance myself from them. They're just ridiculous and so are their expectations.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on January 04, 2016, 12:48:01 am
Yeah, seems like it.

5th anniversary = ?
10 anniversary = Sonic Adventure 2
15th anniversary = Sonic 06
20th anniversary = Sonic Generations

5th anniversary = Sonic 3D Blast
Western version though, since the Japanese version came out 3 years later after the western version.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on January 04, 2016, 11:18:44 am
Generations is the only real "anniversary" game in my opinion. Sure there were games released ON anniversaries, but only Generations capitalized fully on that fact.

SA2 was going to release anniversary or not, and the only real ways the game was shaped by the anniversary was the release date, the Birthday Pack, and the Green Hill Zone stage.

Sonic 06 felt, to me, like a need to reboot the series and they rushed the release to capitalize on the 15th anniversary. A rushed release feels like the only thing they did to celebrate the 15th, which as we all know totally backfired.

I'm interested to see if the 25th anniversary brings us just another main series title or if it will, like Generations, be a game that was fully intended to stand for Sonic's 25th. I'd be fine with either direction, but personally would prefer a game that isn't a throwback celebration. I'd rather see new stages and new story ideas. Past gameplay is the only thing I'd like to see as being a throwback. No need for returning stages and enemies.

Sonic Adventure 3 would be insane, and I think its a bit too late for such a title, but you never know...
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on January 04, 2016, 11:33:32 am
Sonic Adventure 3 would be depressing... The only thing I would salvage from those games is Chao Garden. Shooting, hunting, fishing and so on don't belong in a Sonic game... I buy Sonic games for Sonic gameplay, that being fast paced platforming. I don't mind playing as other characters so long as they too have fast paced gameplay similar to Sonic... Like the classics or Advance series.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on January 04, 2016, 11:42:46 am
Given the development time, they could easily release an epic 2D only Sonic game for next gen platforms. Dropping the boost would mean shorter and smaller stages to design, and making it 2D obviously takes less work than fully 3D games.

---

My dream Sonic game has always been one that returns to the environments seen in the Genesis originals. I want the return of biplanes, tropical islands, machinery taking over naturalistic settings. The Adventure games and Unleashed sort of touched on this, and Generations obviously came closest just because it was straight up remaking the classic setting. But what I would love is an overworld map that is traversed via the Tornado. It could play out like Skies of Arcadia where mini-games and bosses take place in the sky, and you can set down on new islands that contain full on 2D stages. Could toss in some 3D stages, but I'd prefer more 2D than 3D and would be happy if 3D was relegated to a mini-game or something (like Lost World's Honeycomb Highway).
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 04, 2016, 11:43:30 am
Sonic Adventure 3 would be depressing... The only thing I would salvage from those games is Chao Garden. Shooting, hunting, fishing and so on don't belong in a Sonic game... I buy Sonic games for Sonic gameplay, that being fast paced platforming. I don't mind playing as other characters so long as they too have fast paced gameplay similar to Sonic... Like the classics or Advance series.

Just a thought, but they could actually take all that out of an adventure game and make it about Sonic. An adventure game doesn't mean fishing etc as such.

They could go with a refined Generations gameplay and add adventure elements through hub world, in stage puzzles etc.

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Moody on January 05, 2016, 12:12:23 pm
(hears the term "Sonic Adventure 3" again and dies)

But for real though, there's no point. Sonic Team has refined the gameplay so, so much better than the Adventure titles ever were. Going back to the Adventure formula would be a step backwards for the series, imo.

As for the "controversy" of Sonic's 25th, I can see where people are coming from and why some are cautious or outright vehemently against it, but it's a moot point. I can get behind the sentiment of wanting other SEGA franchises to have a chance at an anniversary celebration, at least. It doesn't need to be extravagant, like a new game, but just something, because anything is better than the anniversary being outright ignored like the multiple SEGA anniversaries were last year.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 05, 2016, 01:55:08 pm
I guess that's what people mean though. They want another Sonic Adventure where they try to have a story and a big structure and bring the gameplay to the more updated Sonic we have now.

Jeez...I'm not sure why exactly, but I'm really interested in seeing what Sonic Team are doing. I mean, I know it'll be good as Sonic Team usually do make games to a standard, but this one feels different.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: George on January 05, 2016, 08:01:52 pm
Well, Generations gameplay with a Sonic Adventure hub world and better side games could work fine. I mean, they had a stripped down version of that sorta thing in Sonic Generations and if they expand on that to sorta make it more interactive like the the first Adventure game, I wouldn't be that had on them.

That would mean its going to be a better Sonic Generations and there isn't anything wrong with that. The only thing I would want is ORIGINAL levels.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 06, 2016, 03:50:29 am
Think that's probably how idea do it. Have Sonic as the main character with other mini games along side it with other characters. Things like:

Use Tails to fly through stages solving puzzles
Use Espio to get through stages undetected (a camo mechanic when standing still perhaps)
Use Knuckles' strength to beat a number of enemies and release animals
And so on...

If it is a Generations 2 sort of game, I do hope they refine the controls a bit. SLW may have been a bit much, but it's very accurate in terms of controls.

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on January 06, 2016, 04:59:10 am
Quote
They want another Sonic Adventure where they try to have a story and a big structure and bring the gameplay to the more updated Sonic we have now


That's what I like the sense of scale adventure and world travel was so brilliant in Sonic Adv and also the music score really helped to make you think you were travling the world . Sonic Adv also for me feature the best and most fun Sonic 3D stages.


If ST could just give us more of the same but with 60 fps and amazing graphics they'll be on to a winner imo 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 06, 2016, 11:13:30 am
One thing I never understood is why didn't SEGA add DLC to Generations? Seems a given considering the praise it got. I certainly would have liked more.

Anyway, We should surely be hearing more of Sonic's 25th soon; )
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Radrappy on January 06, 2016, 01:36:03 pm
They did experiment with DLC on Unleashed.  Releasing challenge packs and such.  The amount of resources it would take to make a whole new level though was obviously something they weren't willing to invest in.  That would have been amazing if they just continued to remake old stages with the new engine for a couple of months afterwards.

I think it's pretty clear at this point the DLC for SLW was financed by Nintendo.  It being free is a pretty good indication of this. 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on January 06, 2016, 05:32:48 pm
I guess that's what people mean though. They want another Sonic Adventure where they try to have a story and a big structure and bring the gameplay to the more updated Sonic we have now.

Jeez...I'm not sure why exactly, but I'm really interested in seeing what Sonic Team are doing. I mean, I know it'll be good as Sonic Team usually do make games to a standard, but this one feels different.
What makes this time a bit different for me is because its the first big sonic game thats coming out after SEGA aknowledged lack of quality in their products. Not getting my hopes up or anything, but it should be interesting to see what the result is after that. Whether its just talks or not.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: NoirSuede on January 07, 2016, 01:49:46 am
By the way, the Sonic Adventure 3 rumor thing was false, the guy who started it confessed :
http://board.sonicstadium.org/topic/20449-sonic-25th-anniversary-thread/?page=19
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on January 11, 2016, 05:16:21 am
So anyone finally decode what the "4  3  1  21  16" number of the latest "Big the Cat joins his friends at Game Grumps!" photo that posted in Sonic's official Facebook page?

https://www.facebook.com/Sonic/
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Mariano on January 11, 2016, 08:29:45 am
So anyone finally decode what the "4  3  1  21  16" number of the latest "Big the Cat joins his friends at Game Grumps!" photo that posted in Sonic's official Facebook page?

https://www.facebook.com/Sonic/ (https://www.facebook.com/Sonic/)


45  ;-D
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on January 11, 2016, 10:25:25 am
It's so close to being April 31st, 2016 but that damn 21 had to be a 21 and not a 20.

Numbers to corresponding letters also gets nothing: D C A U P

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Moody on January 11, 2016, 10:36:20 am
Numbers to corresponding letters also gets nothing: D C A U P

It obviously means Dream Cast Awesome Ur Poop
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 11, 2016, 11:32:09 am
So anyone finally decode what the "4  3  1  21  16" number of the latest "Big the Cat joins his friends at Game Grumps!" photo that posted in Sonic's official Facebook page?

https://www.facebook.com/Sonic/
8/21/16 in American format?

August the 21st?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on January 11, 2016, 12:36:53 pm
New bit of official art is telling:

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/922825_10153827948512418_2094941259970216052_n.jpg?oh=0862573f52663cff5c293a32c23208d8&oe=573ED36A&__gda__=1464336689_df401f916883ea1975e52337cee807e3)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Radrappy on January 11, 2016, 12:43:03 pm
I really, really like that image.  Part of me wishes they had included something new on the right side as opposed to reusing the exact same modeling from Generations, but they probably aren't ready to show their hand yet for the new game at all. 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: MykonosFan on January 11, 2016, 12:44:14 pm
I'm curious as to why Quartz Quadrant pillars are on the Classic side, that's something you have to go out of your way to add intentionally. I doubt it's a hint but it's interesting to ponder.

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on January 11, 2016, 01:01:57 pm
I think the pillars are on the classic side because they most closely match the background mountains on the right.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 11, 2016, 01:27:36 pm
Remake it is then I guess.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Phantasos on January 11, 2016, 02:30:49 pm
Either a remake of Sonic 1 or Generations 2.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on January 11, 2016, 02:46:49 pm
Or, you know, it could just be a graphic using pre-existing elements for the social network feeds that Aaron uses.

I honestly think true graphics and art from the upcoming game will be all original materials. Not reused stuff.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Radrappy on January 11, 2016, 03:03:41 pm
Or, you know, it could just be a graphic using pre-existing elements for the social network feeds that Aaron uses.

I honestly think true graphics and art from the upcoming game will be all original materials. Not reused stuff.

(http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1383704/images/n-KNOCK-ON-WOOD-large570.jpg)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on January 11, 2016, 03:47:37 pm
I'd love a remake of Sonic 1 through Sonic and Knuckles in 2.5D
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Radrappy on January 11, 2016, 04:09:55 pm
I'd love a remake of Sonic 1 through Sonic and Knuckles in 2.5D

yes. please god.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Happy Cat on January 11, 2016, 06:27:03 pm
Obviously there will be two different games, the main one will be Sonic the Hedgehog (original) remade in 3D Adventure-like setting with Modern Sonic with a new story to reboot the series. The second game will be smaller 2D game, Sonic Adventure remade in 2D pixels without hub worlds and the playable character being classic Sonic or Boom Sonic. Because iizuka said so.

 /totally a real prediction

no, but really, it's just marketing material. it doesn't say anything about the upcoming game(s). The reason Boom Sonic is on the promotional material is because of Fire & Ice and the TV show. They got classic Sonic cause he is iconic and captures people's attention who lost interest in Sonic after Sonic Generations.

but really... the game is so obviously Sonic Adventure 3 ;p

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CYefgEvWkAALbvR.jpg)

j/k

but i do think it's going to be a game that feels like an Adventure game, even if it's not SA3 by name. Just a gut feeling i have. it could be anything though, it's hard to predict Sonic Team.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on January 11, 2016, 09:14:46 pm
I would be happy with:
-A brand new game unrelated to anything before it. (Think Sonic Colours)
-A remake of the Classics in 2.5D
-Sonic Generations 2
-Any of the above games include a Chao Garden


Id unhappy with:
-Edgy ass stories about Shadow and redemption and DAMN chaos emeralds and Dark Gods.
-Sonic Adventure style departure from Sonic-like fast platforming... (I.e, fishing, hunting, shooting and so on)
-Sonic Generations 2 if Boom Sonic is in it.

The main requirements are get the level designs right and the way Sonic controls right... After that I'm quite easy.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: George on January 11, 2016, 09:18:24 pm
I would think it will a Sonic Adventure like hub world where you can run to differe parts of the map and visit Sonic Friends 'houses' and play minigames (sorta how Sonic gens did it but better). Keep the Generations type of gameplay, keep classic Sonic/Generations. Add a ton of unlockables (like Sonic Boom outfits and different designs. Can even add SANIC meme outfit, the internet will shit their pants. ) and a ton of new levels mixed with a couple of remixed old ones here and there.

Too hard?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Radrappy on January 12, 2016, 10:38:13 am
My money is on it not having boost gameplay.  ST was bellyaching about the boost style being too limiting all throughout SLW's PR run which should have been around the planning/early dev stages of this new title.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 12, 2016, 11:39:22 am
Yup, and I'm glad. Make Sonic fast by all means, but apart from the moments where it's necessary in Generations, it wasn't really that great. You end up skipping loads of things when you just held your finger on boost as much as possible.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on January 12, 2016, 02:37:28 pm
I actually like the Boost in Sonic Colours and Generations... I find it quite thrilling. I felt it was a little over the top in Unleashed. I guess I like both classic and modern Sonic gameplay for their own reasons so I wont be too hard to win over whichever direction they take.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 12, 2016, 03:17:01 pm
I actually like the Boost in Sonic Colours and Generations... I find it quite thrilling. I felt it was a little over the top in Unleashed. I guess I like both classic and modern Sonic gameplay for their own reasons so I wont be too hard to win over whichever direction they take.

Oh, I don't hate it or anything. If it's there, it's there. I'll just use it sparingly so I can explore the acts more. As mentioned above, I'm not sure it'll be in this though.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on January 14, 2016, 05:13:55 am
I actually like the Boost in Sonic Colours and Generations... I find it quite thrilling. I felt it was a little over the top in Unleashed. I guess I like both classic and modern Sonic gameplay for their own reasons so I wont be too hard to win over whichever direction they take.

I love it too and hope it returns as do the 2.5 sections with the switch to 3D as well. I really high hopes for this game . It should be good and well really is needs and must be good and I'm sure the team and tech will be up to it and now Sonic Team (for a change) have been given the development time to make a Sonic that should have any issues and should be a near perfect game .

Do this right ST and I think on both the the PS4 and XBox One it could sell a million plus copies on each system  alone
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: FlareHabanero on January 20, 2016, 05:34:07 am
So the official Sonic Tumblr is teasing something in February. I have no idea what, but knowing people they're gonna have the wrong expectations and get disappointed.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 20, 2016, 11:01:11 am
Even so...everyone all aboard.

*choo choo*
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on January 20, 2016, 03:48:25 pm
*Jumps on train without a reason :-D

....

On a more serious note, it seems like things are being done in a similar routine as before. Cryptic riddle like teases to produce active discussion and such. I dont see much interest compared to previous games tho. A lot more passive, which whilr in my opinion good, im not sure if it is for them

Im just curious about theyre marketing methods this time.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 20, 2016, 04:09:37 pm
If SEGA want Sonic to carry the same weight it once had, they need to earn it back though good games. This needs to be a fresh start for the franchise in a way - and one that doesn't have quality or bad ideas pushed though.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on January 21, 2016, 03:20:24 am
News in Feb? I'm guessing a new Sonic Boom Fire and Ice trailer.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 21, 2016, 10:04:36 am
News in Feb? I'm guessing a new Sonic Boom Fire and Ice trailer.

Not to knock it, but does it really warrant an announcement for a trailer? As great as some the 3D classics look, I don't own a handheld, but I didn't think they really built them up like this.

If so, it's great of course. SEGA really need to push and get people excited about their products.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Phantasos on January 21, 2016, 10:50:15 am
(http://i63.tinypic.com/15cbp78.png)

Oh, Sonic twitter account guy. You so crazy.

Anyway, these teases better amount to something good that's not Sonic related.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on January 21, 2016, 11:19:15 am
George and I are thinking 3D Classics wave 3 which features Puyo Puyo 2 and Power Drift.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 21, 2016, 11:38:01 am
Hope not. It's another game I can't get :(
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on January 21, 2016, 11:42:04 am
Hope not. It's another game I can't get :(

Why not? Don't have a 3DS?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 21, 2016, 11:49:26 am
Why not? Don't have a 3DS?

Yeah. I'm not a fan of handhelds. I like some of the games on them, but the small screen and tiny controls just don't work for me. My hands eclipse the thing just like the PS2/3 controller.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on January 25, 2016, 01:51:38 am
But SEGA loves 3DS.  :P

(http://fs5.directupload.net/images/160125/lkzs68kg.jpg)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 25, 2016, 05:10:19 am
That's actually something I hadn't noticed, but there's technically a game with each Sonic appearing out now this year. I wonder if this means the 25th game will be console/PC only, while the Boom 3DS game will be released at the same time.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on January 26, 2016, 05:48:57 pm
More teasing

https://twitter.com/sonic_hedgehog/status/692070811465678850
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Radrappy on January 27, 2016, 01:04:42 am
I can't take the teasing.  It's just painful.  It just gives me project needlemouse flashbacks.  I'd rather just tune in when there's news. 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 27, 2016, 01:19:55 am
More importantly, no Boom!

*walks down the street dancing*
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on January 27, 2016, 09:34:44 am
Wonder what those numbers mean in the video: 3, 21, 00

It seems Aaron keeps teasing these numbers and nobody is correctly guessing what it is!
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 27, 2016, 10:00:36 am
Just a thought...it's not the release date of one of the older Sonic games is it?

21/3/00?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on January 27, 2016, 10:33:27 am
Being American, Aaron will likely be using the US dates ordering. As for the release date, I don't think that date means anything. Some are saying it is Sonic Adventure 2, but that game released June 19/23 (depending on your region) 2001. So they are pointing to the 00 in 2001 as a clue, lol.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on January 27, 2016, 10:51:13 am
What I find interesting is how classic sonic keeps getting displayed with most of the teases. I wonder why
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 27, 2016, 11:38:31 am
Some are wondering if we're going to see classic and modern Sonic in separate games after this, so they're putting it to the forefront. Personally, I think it's because we're only going to see him return in the anniversary games now, so they're using him to push the product.

@Barry Heh. That's some top quality straw clutching right there.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on January 27, 2016, 01:13:28 pm
Dont play with my heart Tad. Dont do this to me :P . Hehe just kiddin. Honestly the only thing that can get me hyped is if classic gameplay makes a comeback in a good way. Either in 2d or 3d, or maybe both like in generations?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 27, 2016, 01:42:16 pm
I think the anniversary game will feature both like Generations, but I don't think it will be Generations 2 as such. Think it'll have new acts and the odd remake of old gems. Seems a bit too soon to have another set of remaked levels to me. Would be cool to see the old format again though of 2/3 acts per zone with boss battles at the end.

I kind of think this will be a soft reboot to the series too.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on January 27, 2016, 01:51:30 pm
Rather than the remixed stages time travel gimmick, why not have a story of Modern Sonic returning to Green Hill. Imagine something on the scale of Sonic Unleashed, but the locations from the past that have aged since Sonic last saw them. Even cooler, imagine a game where the final zone is Green Hill, and the twist is Eggman totally took it over and it is now final stage hard. Totally ruined by pollution and covered in metal.

Okay.... so I'm sort of describing Sonic CD... but I think it would be really cool to take the Genesis era locations and fold them into the modern era. When was the last game that actually showed Angel Island (outside of Generations)???
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 27, 2016, 02:26:19 pm
Not a bad idea. After suffering from another defeat, Robotnik dissappears for a while leading to Sonic and friends wondering what he's up to. Tails then discovers activity in an old once thought destroyed base and Sonic goes to investigate. He sees former places now in a much worse state due to Robotniks work. Classic sonic could be triggered from flashbacks.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on January 27, 2016, 02:30:50 pm
It actually reminds me of Epic Mickey, which would be a neat direction to take. In fact, I wouldn't mind time travel if it meant Sonic travels to 50 years later and finds Eggman has taken over the earth. Sort of Sonic CD meets Generations where we only see the future.

One thing I've always wanted in the series is an adventure field in the skies, where you fly the Tornado around a map like Skies of Arcadia and then land and play levels. Sort of like Sonic Unleashed meets Sky Chase but totally optional and not a time suck.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on January 27, 2016, 02:50:48 pm
Bit like how Skyward Sword works? You could fly around on a bird and then drop down onto locations as Link. Could work quite well.

I'm a bit concerned about content if the acts are split up like Generations mind. Generations is packed with content, but due to the structure of 1 act for both Sonics, it felt short.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Happy Cat on January 28, 2016, 09:48:14 pm
Have you all seen the new mixtape? It's fire

https://twitter.com/sonic_hedgehog/status/692422361866379264

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Happy Cat on February 12, 2016, 07:43:17 am
We now have our first promotional image for Sonic Adventure Music Experience along with some messed up google Translated text

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CbBKkGWUEAAqhoB.png)

http://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/soundcolumn/senoue/20160212_000987/
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on February 12, 2016, 08:44:43 am
Sonic Adventure 3 would be a huge mistake... I really hope they never do it.
I loved Sonic Adventure back then, but I was also 13 when it came out... It didn't age well. Very little of the entire game played like a Sonic game, the biggest mistake of all, and the Sonic bits were not as well made as they are today.

Imo the only thing salvageable from Sonic Adventure is the Chao Garden which I would love to return.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on February 12, 2016, 08:53:15 am
Sonic Adventure 3 would be a huge mistake... I really hope they never do it.
I loved Sonic Adventure back then, but I was also 13 when it came out... It didn't age well. Very little of the entire game played like a Sonic game, the biggest mistake of all, and the Sonic bits were not as well made as they are today.

Imo the only thing salvageable from Sonic Adventure is the Chao Garden which I would love to return.
I don't see why they would release Sonic Adventure 3 with game design from 1998. I don't believe that's what fans want.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on February 12, 2016, 09:11:52 am
Then why make 'Sonic Adventure 3' at all? What DO they want from it?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Aki-at on February 12, 2016, 09:30:32 am
Then why make 'Sonic Adventure 3' at all? What DO they want from it?

Sonic Adventure 3 can mean a range of things, I mean look at how much difference there is between Adventure 1 and Adventure 2.

In terms of tone, even though both indicated massive genocide, Adventure 1 tried to skim around the sides of things that did occur whilst still retaining its family friendly tone, Adventure 2 did not.

Sonic Adventure came with a hub world,   this idea was expanded in Unleashed but I wish they could go one further. Put Sonic's friends as some of the hub characters, Choatix crew gives Sonic missions, buy stuff from Cream and her mother, Blaze can give you hints etc. It's not essential but I do think a hub world can add to the experience just depends how it's done. But this was something dropped entirely in Adventure 2.

Even the music is totally different between the two. Really it depends on what Sonic Adventure that people wants, I don't want us to get the bad things from Adventure 1 (ie Big, Amy etc) but there are some good things in Adventure 1 that they could expand on further.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on February 12, 2016, 09:37:39 am
The best kind of hub worlds let you play with the games engine without time constraints. Outside of Sonic, the best example I can give is JSRF where you could skate around the GG's hangout and perfect your moves. It was like a little playground, I loved it.

Sonic games have had this idea, but they never take it as far as they could. Sonic Jam is probably the best example. Just a fun 3D world where you can hop on springs and run about, though the move set and gimmicks didn't really exist given it was just a way to access historical materials. Sonic Unleashed had some hubs where you could grind a rail or play around on some platforms. Sonic Generations had everything in 2D, and it wasn't really a playground. More like simple challenges to reach stage entrances.

Funny enough, the best example I can give is the Zelda stage in Sonic Lost World. That open field and all those little gimmicks and challenges were great fun. It could have used a little more variety and objects, but it was the closest we've come to something like Sonic Jam in a modern game. I would love something like this expanded and presented as a hub world in a future game. 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on February 12, 2016, 10:04:28 am
Everytime I hear noise about a possible sonic adventure follow up, I do kind of feel excitement within from the idea. The idea isnt actually that bad. The adventure formula was only bad because of the execution of some characters. But why couldnt something like it have allround interesting gameplay? I just love the wholistic experience  the first adventure offered. Everything felt so organic and connected.

The actual concern from me comes from whether Sonicteam is capable of doing more than what they've become good at. Usually when they do things outside of their comfort zone it goes wrong.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on February 12, 2016, 10:17:24 am
The adventure formula was only ba
It wasn't.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on February 12, 2016, 10:54:28 am
The adventure formula worked in my opinion. Sonic Adventure was the ideal launch game as it showed off just about every Dreamcast feature. When Sonic Adventure 2 released, the Dreamcast was established so they had to streamline the formula and drop some of the game features or improve them. I'd say SA2 did a fine job in improving things. I really liked the Pulp Fiction sort of story structure, it was really cool seeing different sides of a story told out of order.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Radrappy on February 12, 2016, 12:36:49 pm
Guys have you lost your minds?

Do you really want to see treasure hunting come back?  Or shooting?  If it truly is SA3, it better be in name only.


PS the stories were completely awful. SA1's was less so but do we really need a story of genocide being the backbone of a Sonic Narrative?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Aki-at on February 12, 2016, 01:26:50 pm
Guys have you lost your minds?

Do you really want to see treasure hunting come back?  Or shooting?  If it truly is SA3, it better be in name only.

PS the stories were completely awful. SA1's was less so but do we really need a story of genocide being the backbone of a Sonic Narrative?

I don't think anyone here suggested bringing back treasure hunting or shooting (Maybe Crack?) The core aspect people want back is the hubworld from the previous few posts as well as multiple characters and I don't see anything wrong with that depending entirely on execution. And as my post indicated, what IS Sonic Adventure 3? Sonic Adventure 1 and Sonic Adventure 2 have some major differences.

And it wasn't about the stories, it was just about the tone of the games. Sonic Adventure is still pretty light hearted despite what the story is about, Sonic Adventure 2 is constantly dark and sinister and it effects every part of the game because of it. I'd rather we get what we saw in Sonic Adventure back (Which is the same mood something like Sonic OVA had) than have something like Sonic Heroes or Sonic: Lost World.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Kuronoa on February 12, 2016, 04:54:45 pm
I'll be that guy and say I liked the treasure hunting as much as the speed stages.  It helped Knuckles/Rouge was fun to climb and glide around.
I would like to see the levels have a bit of that kind of structure sometimes.  At least if Knuckles/Tails is playable it would cater to their abilities.

I also liked the shooting when Gamma did it, without the time attack aspect they fell apart to me in Adventure 2.

I don't mind seeing an Adventure 3, but its expectations are too much and its formula was already dismantled and explored in Unleashed/06 in some way.

Sonic Adventure came with a hub world,   this idea was expanded in Unleashed but I wish they could go one further. Put Sonic's friends as some of the hub characters, Choatix crew gives Sonic missions, buy stuff from Cream and her mother, Blaze can give you hints etc. It's not essential but I do think a hub world can add to the experience just depends how it's done. But this was something dropped entirely in Adventure 2.

It would be nice, I like seeing them around.  I am still rather torn about the way the fanbase can be short-fused about any character.  I don't think most of them deserve their hate.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on February 13, 2016, 01:53:33 am
I don't see why they would release Sonic Adventure 3 with game design from 1998. I don't believe that's what fans want.

I do . I think its the best Sonic game ever made, Sonic Team completely nailed the adventure part the game Hub modes, even the music made one feel like you on a Globe trotting adventure. Windy Valley and Speed Highway are the best Sonic levels I've played in 3D, only camera and tech issues hurt the game .

That said I would also love to see a time travailing Sonic game like in Sonic CD, that would be cool and it was great feature and design of Sonic CD and don't mind more of Colours or Generations as they were class Sonic games .
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Randroid on February 13, 2016, 03:00:36 am
IMO the Gameplay of SA series was fun and the hub world idea can be fun, but conceptually, I think it's the worst of all Sonic games. I hate the mixing Sonic with "real world" human environments.

I think the Genesis titles had the perfect blend of the unleashed/lost world style cartoony-ness mixed with just enough darkness. I mean Sonic 3 has you witnessing a firebombing of an island forest, all in just the very first act. Having Sonic talk and interact with humans just breaks that mystique down. I know it's hard for them to go back to that, but Generations kind of acknowledged it with Classic Sonic never talking.

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on February 13, 2016, 12:04:24 pm
I'd be happy with an Adventure styled game, but they'd need to make adjustments as others have mentioned. And a story that is actually er...decent. Nothing incredible, just solid.

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Aki-at on February 13, 2016, 01:26:12 pm
IMO the Gameplay of SA series was fun and the hub world idea can be fun, but conceptually, I think it's the worst of all Sonic games. I hate the mixing Sonic with "real world" human environments.

I think the Genesis titles had the perfect blend of the unleashed/lost world style cartoony-ness mixed with just enough darkness. I mean Sonic 3 has you witnessing a firebombing of an island forest, all in just the very first act. Having Sonic talk and interact with humans just breaks that mystique down. I know it's hard for them to go back to that, but Generations kind of acknowledged it with Classic Sonic never talking.

I agree, I always thought the humans of Sonic's world lived in equally fantastical cities as the world Sonic and his friends lived in and I always thought humans like this (http://im-ignv1.ziffdavisinternational.com/ign_ap/pictures/articles/4884/45575.jpg) suited the Sonic series fine. What we got after just didn't mix well with the designs of Sonic and crew.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on February 13, 2016, 01:35:23 pm
I've always been a bit confused with the law of the Sonic universe. When I was a kid, I thought the humanoid animals were sort of "hidden" away from humans (apart from Robotnik) and stopped Robotnik on planet Mobius. But in the adventure games, they seem to suggest humans know of them and they're no longer on mobius and are now trying to re float angel island...any help?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Aki-at on February 13, 2016, 01:43:23 pm
I've always been a bit confused with the law of the Sonic universe. When I was a kid, I thought the humanoid animals were sort of "hidden" away from humans (apart from Robotnik) and stopped Robotnik on planet Mobius. But in the adventure games, they seem to suggest humans know of them and they're no longer on mobius and are now trying to re float angel island...any help?

Mobius was something Sega West came up with, otherwise Sonic has always been on Earth according to the Japanese storyline, albeit fantasy version of it.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Radrappy on February 13, 2016, 01:45:01 pm
I've always been a bit confused with the law of the Sonic universe. When I was a kid, I thought the humanoid animals were sort of "hidden" away from humans (apart from Robotnik) and stopped Robotnik on planet Mobius. But in the adventure games, they seem to suggest humans know of them and they're no longer on mobius and are now trying to re float angel island...any help?

There is no canon explanation or continuity for these games.  Unleashed had human filled cities yet felt no need to acknowledge or mention station square.  I think it's safe to say there are only loose elements binding these games and that any effort to bridge them with logic will only result in a headache.   
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Kuronoa on February 13, 2016, 02:11:26 pm
I always figure there are more humans than Eggman,  I was also kinda expecting more people than just Eggman who are like him as well...  but Sonic 1 and 2 take place on islands.  There are buildings in the backgrounds of different zones.  If there are no humans living on South Island it is either 1:  Eggman scared them away.  2:  Spring Yard and Star Light kinda face one another or 3:  We just never travel to the city because there is no need.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on February 13, 2016, 02:26:47 pm
Hmm...I see. Thanks.

I kind of hope if there is a soft reboot, they straighten that all out. Seems a bit all over the place due to different territories making what they want with it. Although, Robotnik is still better than Eggman.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Kuronoa on February 13, 2016, 02:51:15 pm
Robotnik is his true last name, ever since Adventure games I think?  Those games contribute to a lot of lore it seems.  I like Eggman because he is roly poly and more fun to say.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on February 13, 2016, 03:14:21 pm
Yeah, isn't Eggman his nickname anyway? His real name Ivo Robotnik.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on February 13, 2016, 03:29:50 pm
Eggman is his name. America had their own storyline and the Robotnik name, Robotnik appeared in a few localized games but it wasn't until Adventure's English translation that they had both names and after that it was just Eggman and materials like manuals would occasionally mention Robotnik. It is to my understanding that the original Eggman was always preferred by Sonic Team and Robotnik was forced by SEGA of America.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on February 13, 2016, 03:44:22 pm
Aw, really? Eggman seems so goofy though. :(
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on February 13, 2016, 03:59:14 pm
I should also mention that Sonic Team currently sees Sonic existing in two worlds. One of all animals (any games without humans) and one of all humans (SA1,2,Unleashed). It's based loosely on the plot to Sonic X. I think Sonic Team adapted this after X aired. No game has yet to clearly explain these two realities/worlds, but that's what they go by behind the scenes. Iizuka mentioned this back when Colors released and Aaron Webber expanded on it in a SEGAbits podcast.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Randroid on February 13, 2016, 04:04:11 pm
Eggman/Robitnik's character is the best thing to come out of the SA+ sonic games. That dude has the best lines.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Aki-at on February 13, 2016, 04:18:18 pm
I should also mention that Sonic Team currently sees Sonic existing in two worlds. One of all animals (any games without humans) and one of all humans (SA1,2,Unleashed). It's based loosely on the plot to Sonic X. I think Sonic Team adapted this after X aired. No game has yet to clearly explain these two realities/worlds, but that's what they go by behind the scenes. Iizuka mentioned this back when Colors released and Aaron Webber expanded on it in a SEGAbits podcast.

This is kind of contradictory considering the originals clearly had human structures in it not of Robotnik's design (Starlight and Chemical Plant) and that South Island and Christmas Island are real life locations.

Better not to pay attention to the continuity of the series since they honestly didn't put much thought into it.

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on February 13, 2016, 04:46:04 pm
True. You could always just sort of see them as separate anyway.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Moody on February 13, 2016, 05:05:42 pm
I remember me and a friend tried to concisely put together a timeline for the series based solely on consistency, and all I could come up with was a three timeline setup, with certain games being catalysts to linear splits, and it didn't even encompass every game. The Sonic series has practically no consistency beyond the surface level, so I just don't even try to think about how one game matches up with another anymore, unless it's some direct sequel stuff, which to my knowledge has only happened twice (Sonic 2->Sonic 3 and Sonic Adventure 2->Shadow the Hedgehog (Heroes barely mattered in that series)).
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on February 13, 2016, 08:27:22 pm
IIRC the two worlds thing came about in 2008, so it's not something they had established early on. The originals likely didn't have a firm all human or all animal world established, and they just made zones that look cool.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on February 14, 2016, 04:11:46 am
Sonic was always meant to be with Humans, he was at one point meant be with a rock bad and have a human girlfriend
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on February 14, 2016, 07:35:40 am
Sonic was always meant to be with Humans, he was at one point meant be with a rock bad and have a human girlfriend

Huh. I didn't know that.

I knew there were humans on their planet, but for some reason (maybe Sonic X), I always thought after Sonic 3, they got transported to "Earth" by some means (Emeralds?) and were trying to get home. Don't ask me why, I was only young lol.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Phantasos on February 14, 2016, 12:50:37 pm
Sonic was always meant to be with Humans, he was at one point meant be with a rock bad and have a human girlfriend

Which was thankfully snapped back then cause it was fucking stupid.

And then stupid came full circle in 2006.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Phantasos on February 14, 2016, 02:40:44 pm
Actually, these last few pages should be added as a case study for how fucking schizo the Sonic fanbase is. You have fans of every single, completely distinct game facet that Sega pulled with Sonic these last few years so no decent amount of fans can agree with one another so you almost always end up in these backs and forth that go nowhere...to just have Sega say that they aren't doing anything that every splintered fanbase wants and do something completely different.

It's fucking astounding how Sega can be so completely out of touch with their own series, which is even more fucking ridiculous considering Sonic is like THE Sega character. Just taking a small look at Valkirya Chronicles and you see the same schizophrenia again. You have a game that ends up a cult hit since just about every aspect about it is liked by a very loyal fanbase...just to have a sequel that has shit to do with the first game to then have a threequel that is as different from the sequel as it is from the original game to THEN have a "spinoff" that is so completely detached from the main series, you might as well call it something else entirely. Really, the Valkyria Chronicles series is so fucking disjointed that at this point, you might as well call the original game the spinoff.

Thinking about this, it's surprising how Yakuza can be so consistent with itself.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on February 14, 2016, 03:06:44 pm
Isn't that why we love Sega in the first place tho? The unrelentless quest for the new and fresh?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on February 14, 2016, 03:18:42 pm
Plenty of franchises are segmented. Its not particularly a bad thing. If anything, it says plenty about the longevity of the franchise when you have so many different interpretations that each have their own segments of fans. TMNT, for example, began in 1984 and since seen dozens of different takes on the franchise. Is their fanbase segmented? Hell yeah. Are they united? Not particularly. Does it matter in the end? Doesn't appear that way given the franchise is still going strong.

SEGA will never satisfy ever division of the fanbase, nor should they have to. They simply need to stay true to the franchise's roots, focus on quality, and continue to do what works. In my opinion they have been doing just that, on the SEGA of Japan Sonic Team end, since 2011.

I see no problem with fans not agreeing and going back and forth. Nearly every fanbase has that: Star Wars, Batman, Superman, etc.


What I find particularly interesting is that several members of the Sonic fanbase appear really hung up on this aspect and moan about it constantly. Sonic Adventure, Classic Sonic, Sonic Boom, Archie Sonic - they all have their fans, and the different groups don't agree! OH NO! Who cares? I find it so silly that some Sonic fans on twitter with large followings constantly talk about this. It is nothing new in pop culture.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on February 14, 2016, 03:36:19 pm
True, but I can see why their are issues with that. Spinoffs etc are okay, but after a while too much can dilute the core franchise. Sonic is a good example of that really.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Centrale on February 14, 2016, 04:21:27 pm
It's fucking astounding how Sega can be so completely out of touch with their own series

Sorry, but this attitude is the core of the problem. I'm not sure how fans convinced themselves that they are the ones who decide what a series is or isn't, should or shouldn't be. If I were in Sega's shoes, I'd politely disregard everything the fans say because it's all just a bunch of contradictory, hysterical noise.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Phantasos on February 14, 2016, 06:42:58 pm
Isn't that why we love Sega in the first place tho? The unrelentless quest for the new and fresh?

In some cases, it's less a quest for the new and fresh and more of flinging shit at the wall and see what sticks.

Sorry, but this attitude is the core of the problem. I'm not sure how fans convinced themselves that they are the ones who decide what a series is or isn't, should or shouldn't be. If I were in Sega's shoes, I'd politely disregard everything the fans say because it's all just a bunch of contradictory, hysterical noise.

Well, when you slice my entire post and reduce it to that single quote, I'm sure you'd be making a great point there. Problem is that I've said a little more than just that.

It's one thing to have a really divided fanbase that bitches incessantly since they don't get what they want and then it's another thing when you have Sega making game after game after game that none of those fanbases want, even when they reach a decent level of quality overall. I'm personally satisfied with either Adventure games or Boost to Win games or even Classic games. I'm covered in 3 styles of games they've made. And Sega somehow managed to make none of those in the last 4 years. Just Lost World blandness and Sonic Boom atrocities. It's just ridiculous.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Happy Cat on February 14, 2016, 07:59:17 pm
So this is floating around on the internet. I wouldn't read too much into it either way. Just seems to be a promotional Sonic licensing image.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CbNBfJQW0AESXPN.png)

it's still news though sorta
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Radrappy on February 14, 2016, 08:45:16 pm
In an attempt to steer the topic in a more constructive direction, seeing these three Sonic's next to eachother really makes me realize that Modern Sonic's design is kind of. . .a mess.

I don't like what Boom did to Sonic's proportions, but even Boom Sonic manages to have a pretty nice silhouette with his face and spines that make logical sense.  Classic is obviously the king of this with a perfectly circular head and three sleek easy to manage spines.  Modern is neither here nor there with freakishly long ears, a weird body shape, and spines that jut out with no rhyme or reason and with so much volume that they start to resemble creepy alien head tails than actual spines.  I never thought I'd say this but maybe Modern Sonic needs a redesign to make his head a little simpler and easier to manage? 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: FlareHabanero on February 14, 2016, 08:51:56 pm
>350 million games sold.

I'm calling bullshit on that. Not because of bias, but that would imply the series is outselling stuff like Call of Duty and Pokemon, and last time I checked that wasn't the case. Granted the estimates are outdated, but even then I highly doubt the Sonic series sold 210 million more games in only a few years, especially when recent stuff is tanking financially.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Happy Cat on February 14, 2016, 08:58:32 pm
In an attempt to steer the topic in a more constructive direction, seeing these three Sonic's next to eachother really makes me realize that Modern Sonic's design is kind of. . .a mess.

I don't like what Boom did to Sonic's proportions, but even Boom Sonic manages to have a pretty nice silhouette with his face and spines that make logical sense.  Classic is obviously the king of this with a perfectly circular head and three sleek easy to manage spines.  Modern is neither here nor there with freakishly long ears, a weird body shape, and spines that jut out with no rhyme or reason and with so much volume that they start to resemble creepy alien head tails than actual spines.  I never thought I'd say this but maybe Modern Sonic needs a redesign to make his head a little simpler and easier to manage? 

You should read the Polygon interview if you haven't. Iizuka says modern Sonic is here to stay and won't be getting redesigned or replace anytime soon. It's gonna be interesting to see what eventually happens to Boom Sonic. I get a feeling Iizuka isn't a fan of Boom Sonic.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on February 14, 2016, 09:07:00 pm
A 25 year old franchise with dozens of games spanning main series, spin offs and rereleases? 350 million sounds right.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Aki-at on February 14, 2016, 10:03:34 pm
>350 million games sold.

I'm calling bullshit on that. Not because of bias, but that would imply the series is outselling stuff like Call of Duty and Pokemon, and last time I checked that wasn't the case. Granted the estimates are outdated, but even then I highly doubt the Sonic series sold 210 million more games in only a few years, especially when recent stuff is tanking financially.

It says "sold or downloaded"

Sonic Dash is over 100 million downloads, so that leaves us with 250 million.

Sonic Jump, Sonic Jump Fever, Sonic Dash 2 and Sonic Runners probably are about 20 million between them, now we're down to 230 million. Take away another 30 odd million for the Mario & Sonic series and we're down to 200 million.

200 million for a series that's been around for 25 odd years and keeps getting re-releases of its old games doesn't seem like a stretch. The original Sonic the Hedgehog sold 6 million on iOS alone, so imagine how many more sales it's racked up thanks to being on Playstation Network, Virtual Console, 3DS remake, Xbox Live Arcade etc and THEN we have collections like Mega Collection that have done over a million.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on February 15, 2016, 08:12:19 am
Modern Sonics design is basically my favourite of the three, that's a bad render I'll agree on that.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on February 15, 2016, 08:55:02 am
best design coming through
(http://levelsave.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/sa2xbla.jpg)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on February 15, 2016, 08:59:57 am
^Yeah. I feel like the things that sometimes do make modern sonic look "off" are a sum of subtle things. But overall im quite alright with it. I like his render from smash wii U especially.

(http://www.ssbwiki.com/images/thumb/f/f3/Sonic_SSB4.png/250px-Sonic_SSB4.png)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Kuronoa on February 15, 2016, 09:35:37 am
I never complain about classic vs modern.  Classic has a bit of tallness look to him depending on the game and region.

(http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll183/leox001/soniccomparisonLeox001.png)

Western Sonic was more roly-poly.  Probably factored into his Generations re-debut.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Aki-at on February 15, 2016, 09:55:57 am
I actually thing that render makes classic Sonic look a bit rough too. Besides that I think the look of classic Sonic doesn't match his designs on the official Japanese art, spines seem a bit too short for my liking. And I agree with Koronoa, he seemed a bit chubby in Gens too.

Modern Sonic's model looked perfect in Unleashed I thought.

best design coming through
(http://levelsave.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/sa2xbla.jpg)

You're wrong but OVA Sonic forgives you.

(http://41.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5hcdiwXgP1qdtw9eo1_500.png)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on February 15, 2016, 10:20:18 am
OVA Sonic poses as a very nice middle ground between Classic and Adventure Sonic.
Too bad there never was a Saturn Sonic game to use it, though we can still see the model in the Tornado segments in Sonic Adventure
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on February 15, 2016, 10:33:16 am
Which was thankfully snapped back then cause it was fucking stupid.


And having a bipedal Blue Hedgehog with red trainers that can break the sound barrier isn't in the least bit stupid  ?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on February 15, 2016, 11:14:58 am
Saturn Sonic all the way for me. Modern looks fine mind.

Boom can go die in a fire.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on February 15, 2016, 11:26:36 am
Boom is fine, but extremely forgettable. The bandages are also a bit too much on Sonic, look smexy on Knuckles tho
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Kuronoa on February 15, 2016, 02:46:16 pm
I learned that the bandaging actually something athletes do called spatting.  It isn't bad idea for characters known to run and jump a lot.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on February 15, 2016, 04:32:31 pm
It is indeed, but this is clearly a stylistic thing and as such, meh.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: George on February 15, 2016, 10:01:07 pm
SEGA saw this when they made the redesigns:
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGreusjVAAAXMWO.png)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Happy Cat on February 20, 2016, 12:39:42 pm
saw this on twitter. Image from a Sammy Race track. not really big news or anything, but still cool

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CbrEjG6UYAIS25I.jpg)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: pirovash88 on February 24, 2016, 12:29:25 am
SEGA saw this when they made the redesigns:
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGreusjVAAAXMWO.png)

Lmao.

Anyways, was always a fan of classic Sonic. Sonic 2 IMO had the best character designs. Of the modern iterations I enjoyed SA best.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on June 26, 2016, 10:53:32 pm
Many gamers always said that they don't care about Sonic anymore, yet every Sonic's article on Gematsu & Siliconera were always full of comments. Lol.

(http://fs5.directupload.net/images/160627/rjvf96i3.jpg)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: George on June 26, 2016, 11:29:29 pm
Mostly complaining. All I will say is wait till July 22nd when ALL the information is revealed. I think a lot of Sonic fans will be pleased after they get all the news and not just a very tiny bit of it.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Clint Forrester on June 30, 2016, 12:09:01 am
I hope that the 2017 release year doesn't mean it'll be an NX exclusive. I don't want to buy another Nintendo console after the Wii U.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on June 30, 2016, 12:44:59 am
I can't see them doing that again. They would be crazy.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Happy Cat on June 30, 2016, 12:56:16 am
just to alleviate any worries people are having...

Quote
We have seen a decline in the kids market on console. Has that had an impact on Sonic at all?

Gerscovich: We are constantly monitoring all platforms and making sure we are where the audience is. One thing to keep in mind is that we have an older audience, a lot of core and retro gamers, and we have a kids audience as well. They both have different habits and different ways of playing. So we need to make sure we are on as many platforms as possible for both audiences, and you will see that as Sonic evolves.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/sega-we-are-turning-sonic-into-an-entertainment-icon/0169099

now you can enjoy the anniversary, and ignore anyone who is acting like Sonic is a Nintendo IP
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on June 30, 2016, 02:09:43 am
just to alleviate any worries people are having...

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/sega-we-are-turning-sonic-into-an-entertainment-icon/0169099 (http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/sega-we-are-turning-sonic-into-an-entertainment-icon/0169099)

now you can enjoy the anniversary, and ignore anyone who is acting like Sonic is a Nintendo IP

Good find.
I could see it as one of NX' launch title though (just like Sonic Adventure 2: Battle for Game Cube (PAL) and Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed for WiiU) and what if the delayed of Sonic into 2017 was because Nintendo asked SEGA to? To make it as one of their launch title?

NX' launch title? Yes.
NX' Exclusive? No.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: George on June 30, 2016, 04:02:52 am
Nothing wrong with it being on NX, as long as its not exclusive. Nintendo fans love Sonic, im ok with that.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on June 30, 2016, 07:02:35 am
Nothing wrong with it being on NX, as long as its not exclusive. Nintendo fans love Sonic, im ok with that.

Agreed no issues with that. I think it be multi platform and it needs to be . Hoping its going to look stunning onthe One, PS4 and PC . This could be really BIG for SEGA and the Sonic Team 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Happy Cat on June 30, 2016, 08:10:58 pm
So there is a a SA3 fan group on facebook, and they got an interview with Aaron Webber, most of the questions they asked him were his opinion on controversial things but i found this bit interesting:

Quote
SA3: On the topic of the new game coming, the way things are moving right now...
It seems the big lesson you learned from the past is to take more time with releasing the games. Are there other more specific things Sega learned from the past 5 years that we'll see improvement in for the future?

AW: There's a lot of stuff, but I think that's stuff we'll talk about later. So there's really nothing I can give you now. But I'm pretty proud of where the company is going and the effort they're putting on Sonic and the fact they delayed Sonic Boom Fire and Ice.

Everyone's so proud of the delay that we're expecting it to be a bulletpoint on the back of the box by this point.

AW: That's a great step. It's so rare you hear of a game getting delayed to give it more time to be polished.
That kind of stuff, the lack of time, is what creates these moments from our history that we look back on and go "Oh, there's that moment. We try not to speak of that moment." So I think it's great they've already taken that first step, speaking as a fan. You know, and having seen the things that I've seen, I'm really excited for what comes next.
And that'll come to light soon.




https://www.facebook.com/notes/sonic-adventure-3/a-talk-with-sonic-twitters-aaron-webber/1013905661992140
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on June 30, 2016, 10:02:50 pm
Some are saying this is just PR speak, but I don't buy it. Aaron is one of those rare instances of a discerning fan in a position at a company. He is not the one to bullshit. Past SEGA staffers have, I won't name names but we have seen Rise of Lyric and Sonic 4 Episode 1 fed to us with PR bullshit. Aaron though? If he has seen it and played it and is excited then I am pleased.

I should also note that Sonic Retro alum and former SEGAbits writer (well, two articles) Gene is now a SEGA intern. He can say even less than Aaron, but I know he is positive - and this is the guy who destroyed a copy of Rise of Lyric on Twitter.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on July 01, 2016, 04:17:45 am
Some are saying this is just PR speak, but I don't buy it. Aaron is one of those rare instances of a discerning fan in a position at a company. He is not the one to bullshit. Past SEGA staffers have, I won't name names but we have seen Rise of Lyric and Sonic 4 Episode 1 fed to us with PR bullshit. Aaron though? If he has seen it and played it and is excited then I am pleased.



I used to know a few staff quite high up at Sega and they told me years back that the Sonic Team had some seriously good plans, nice tech and a real planned out strategy to make Quality games and in their view Sonic Team was the best In house team and would surprise many , was told Sonic Team were the only Team in SOJ to  truly 'get it'.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on July 01, 2016, 12:55:55 pm
I used to know a few staff quite high up at Sega and they told me years back that the Sonic Team had some seriously good plans, nice tech and a real planned out strategy to make Quality games and in their view Sonic Team was the best In house team and would surprise many , was told Sonic Team were the only Team in SOJ to  truly 'get it'.

Was the fruit of that Sonic Colours and Generations? Because both of those games were great and I think they DID get it. But then lost it again with the Wii U game. Not that the Wii U game wasn't a quality game, it was polished and looked great but it didn't play like Sonic should.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on July 02, 2016, 06:10:34 am
Was the fruit of that Sonic Colours and Generations? Because both of those games were great and I think they DID get it.

It was at the start of Colors. Sonic Lost World was a really lovely game, but it just didn't feel like or play like a Sonic game . Sonic Team are a talented group, they don't deserve  the knocking they get . Along with the Yakuza studio they're the best inside SEGA Japan
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: FlareHabanero on July 03, 2016, 09:01:19 am
The problem with Sonic Lost World is that there a lot of ideas, but no focus. It tried to be both complex and simple, soft and edgy, nostalgic and new, but nothing gels and as a result it comes off as an unappealing cacophony of ideas that feels like it tries too hard to appeal to too many people at once. The weird part is that staff were confident that the game was going to be the game that received critical acclaim, despite the fact the game is a mess.


Also, SEGA (or more specifically the people involved with development) should receive criticism just like anything else. You think products improve because everyone pretends everything is okay and people just blindly accept everything? No, to improve you need to understand what your mistakes are and how to fix it. It's a natural human instinct that applies to everything, and video game development is no exception.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on July 04, 2016, 11:58:03 am
I'm all for having issues with a Team when they mess up, but now its cool to knock Sonic just for the shake of it . Lost World was far from rubbish or terrible like some would make out and Sonic Colors and Gen were really really good games; Yet still Sonic and the get slagged off and its really unfair.

My major trouble with Lost World was the silly deal to lock it to one platform, it didn't really feel or play like a Sonic game  and also that is lost direction half way through, but it was far from terrible or dire .
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on July 04, 2016, 07:59:29 pm
Sonic Lost World is one of the most solid Sonic games Sonic Team has ever released... at least, in terms of the lack of bugs and glitches. Everything just works and I rarely had camera issues or encountered crazy glitches. Having said that, I agree that the game loses focus and that the controls are not the ideal direction to take Sonic. Honestly, if it weren't a Sonic game I think people would be giving it a lot more praise. But coming off of Generations, it does seem like a weird direction to take things.

Lost World actually feels more like something to Colors team would have made next, which I guess it kind of was. I think being a Wii U game they felt that they had to utilize the gamepad controller, which was a mistake. Triggers for running was unneeded and the wisps works horribly on the touch screen.


My thoughts have since changed from my initial review, but here it is if anybody is interested: http://segabits.com/blog/2013/11/15/review-sonic-lost-world-wii-u/
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Clint Forrester on July 09, 2016, 01:20:54 pm
The problem with Sonic Lost World is that there a lot of ideas, but no focus. It tried to be both complex and simple, soft and edgy, nostalgic and new, but nothing gels and as a result it comes off as an unappealing cacophony of ideas that feels like it tries too hard to appeal to too many people at once. The weird part is that staff were confident that the game was going to be the game that received critical acclaim, despite the fact the game is a mess.
I remember Aaron or someone at SEGA demonstrating Lost World when it was still months off from release, and even then, I could tell that the game was a bit awkward to control. And why does Sonic even need a run button? Or any 3D platformer for that matter? Isn't that what analog controls are for? It's as if in 2013 both Nintendo and SEGA forgot that analog sticks existed.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: FlareHabanero on July 09, 2016, 03:45:35 pm
Nintendo had no involvement with the development of Sonic Lost World.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Radrappy on July 10, 2016, 03:34:47 am
I think he's just referring to the run button found in Super Mario 3d world.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Clint Forrester on July 12, 2016, 07:13:01 pm
I think he's just referring to the run button found in Super Mario 3d world.
Right, that's what I meant. Sorry for any confusion.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on July 13, 2016, 08:33:52 am
Anybody here attending that big Sonic event in San Diego next week?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on July 13, 2016, 09:30:44 am
Afraid not. It's a rather big swim and walk for me here in Britain.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on July 22, 2016, 11:34:49 am
Who here is HYPE
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on July 22, 2016, 12:17:50 pm
I am the hype??!

Seriously though, this is going to be great! Can't wait to see what they've been working on.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on July 22, 2016, 12:42:47 pm
Sonic Adventure 3
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on July 22, 2016, 01:43:23 pm
Its not Sonic Adventure 3... Thank fuck. Series has aged like trash and I don't want to play non-Sonic gameplay in a Sonic game.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on July 22, 2016, 01:55:59 pm
The time is unfortunate, but at least its in the weekend. I may check it live if i cant sleep lol..
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on July 22, 2016, 04:41:12 pm
Either way
(http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/random-ness/images/5/50/Vector_dis_gon_b_gud.gif/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/320?cb=20130224135055)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on July 22, 2016, 06:50:00 pm
Its not Sonic Adventure 3... Thank fuck. Series has aged like trash and I don't want to play non-Sonic gameplay in a Sonic game.
It's not like they'd release a game from 15 years ago..
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Phantasos on July 22, 2016, 09:47:37 pm
Seems like a pretty damn good throwback. Something like Mega man 8 and 9

Pretty cool move, actually. I could say they're playing it safe but considering this is Sega, they're actually playing with fire, given how Sonic 4 turned out to be.

But still, already looks leagues above Sonic 4.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on July 22, 2016, 11:47:37 pm
Sonic Mania! Looks pretty sweet and we've got another announcement coming shortly.

Sonic Project 2017 for XBO/PS4/NX/PC featuring modern and classic Sonic!
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Trippled on July 23, 2016, 01:49:58 am
Considering how long these titles have been in development I expect each game to have 10 zones or more.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Randroid on July 23, 2016, 01:52:49 am
Knocked it outta the park with these two announcements.

Sonic Mania looks like the Sonic 4 we should have had years ago.

Love how they started the Sonic 2017 trailer singling out Colors and Generations. The two modern Sonic games universally recognized as great. Smart fucking move on their part. Can't ask for a better announcement strategy.

SONIC IS BACK!
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: FlareHabanero on July 23, 2016, 04:44:00 am
These games are fucking trash.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on July 23, 2016, 05:10:19 am
These games are fucking trash.
That's the spirit!

I was expecting more of an announcement at the end..they just confirmed what we already knew, a Sonic game is coming out in 2017...

But Sonic Mania is so fucking amazing that it's ok
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on July 23, 2016, 06:51:19 am
Oh man, Sonic Mania looks so damn good. Like, perfect. Everything I wanted. Over the past year or so Sonic CD has become one of my favourite Sonic games. (I still don't like the future/past mechanic taking you out of the action) but asthetic wise I really like it... This looks to have a similar vibe at least in that new zone.

Sonic 2017, the apocolypse theme is a little concerning... I don't think Sonic games should take themselves so seriously. But if it's similar to Sonic Generations then I'm in. Sonic Generations and Sonic Colours have probably been my favourite 3D Sonic games of all time.


These games are fucking trash.

Your post is fucking trash. At least explain yourself, don't be a drive by shit-posting doucher.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on July 23, 2016, 07:06:58 am
0:07 on this video:
https://youtu.be/VjfeKd-vSD4?t=7s


(http://gamefabrique.com/storage/screenshots/genesis/streets-of-rage-1-03.png)


Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Artwark on July 23, 2016, 08:08:42 am
Finally, a True Sonic game atlast! I don't think anyone here can say anything bad about Mania.


I'm actually surprised that people seem to look at it as a fan game and honestly....these guys are dumb. This looks nothing like a fan game. Levels are re-imagined for one thing, its under the direction of Sonic Team as well and further more, have they played Sonic CD? That game had weird levels to begin with and so maybe this game is suppose to bring something like CD.


I really like the new air dash mechanic. I hope its not implemented everytime you land because that might be irritating.


Still, day one purchase for this game. Not sure if I can get hyped for the other Sonic game but I'm happy its coming for the NX first.

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on July 23, 2016, 08:15:34 am
Sonic Mania... man.. finally.

I'm not a fan of the teaser however. Seems like the worst way to tease a game. THere's not much to surprise plus its using already done tricks to (potentially) please a certain crowd. Something surprising woulda been nice, other than that im looking forward to seeing more. Hopefully classic sonic's gameplay is better this time, especially with how sonic mania looks fucking incredible.

Things are heading in the right direction imho. Its so great that SEGA finally aknowledges the timeless apeal of classic sonic.

@Sharky I said wow!
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on July 23, 2016, 08:21:03 am

I really like the new air dash mechanic. I hope its not implemented everytime you land because that might be irritating.

It's not every time you land, that's for sure. Though I don't know the button command I guess it might hold down or whatever the spin button is, as you land.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on July 23, 2016, 08:32:30 am
The sonic mania stage being demoed seems to be heavily inspired from sonic CD's stardust speedway. Its funny because before I realized I was kind of dissapointed by it being too automated  ;-D . Hopefully we'll see more challenging stuff where also speed is a reward.

Here's some music from the stage btw !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGR5fTO2oio (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGR5fTO2oio)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Artwark on July 23, 2016, 08:36:06 am



The sonic mania stage being demoed seems to be heavily inspired from sonic CD's stardust speedway. Its funny because before I realized I was kind of dissapointed by it being too automated  ;-D . Hopefully we'll see more challenging stuff where also speed is a reward.

Here's some music from the stage btw !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGR5fTO2oio (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGR5fTO2oio)


HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!!!!! WHERE DID YOU GET THAT SONG?!?!?!? ITS DAMM GOOOOOOOOODDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on July 23, 2016, 09:05:36 am



HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!!!!! WHERE DID YOU GET THAT SONG?!?!?!? ITS DAMM GOOOOOOOOODDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I think it was shared with the attenders altho im not sure. Yeah its really good.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on July 23, 2016, 10:02:57 am
The song probably came with a press pack of some kind... I believe they were giving limited edition USB sticks out to people who attended with 'something' on them... Perhaps these tunes were on the USB.


Check out the Club SEGA reference:
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CoDvOfbWcAEHyq_.jpg)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Artwark on July 23, 2016, 10:44:43 am
Just realized that Tee Lopes is composing the music for Mania!


Man!!!!!!!! now I'm more excited for this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on July 23, 2016, 10:48:44 am
God damn this looks good!

Sonic Project 2017 is building up to be more of Generations which is great too.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on July 23, 2016, 10:56:18 am
Its also such a huge difference with how sonic 4 was revealed/presented. I honestly think sonic mania has been the best made sonic trailer in a while

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxmtYdEWVzo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxmtYdEWVzo)

So good
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on July 23, 2016, 11:16:18 am
The animation at the titlescreen is also really amazing! Pausing every frame makes it really a sight to behold.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Trippled on July 23, 2016, 11:18:00 am
2011 was the year where I think the best Sonic games I ever played were released. The remade Sonic CD (Yes Taxman's version became my favourite 2D Sonic) and Sonic Generations. Building off those is the only right move...
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on July 23, 2016, 11:34:30 am
I think having Taxman on board really adds a lot to this too. He knows his stuff and has more then proven he 'gets' sonic.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on July 23, 2016, 01:00:49 pm
Direct feed ghz with remastered soundtrack and it seems act 1 bosses is confirmed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ8EedQJk7Y (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ8EedQJk7Y)

im feeling things.. Have been cynical for way too long
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on July 23, 2016, 02:18:22 pm
I know what you mean. The name, the look and the sounds, it all brings that 90s vibe back.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Randroid on July 23, 2016, 03:59:07 pm
That Stage Music God Damn! I was just a smiiidge disappointed when they chose the Sonic CD aesthetic over something like Sonic 3nK, but that stage track is perfect for it. No complaints at all.

And loving those references to Streets of Rage and Club Sega. Great finds!
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Artwark on July 23, 2016, 06:22:26 pm
So There's some footage that the game has right now. Green Hill and Studiopolis are the only levels played here.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1nQxH3kugg

Honestly, I can't see anything negative happening here. You have two Sonic games coming out next year where two different staffs are working hard on these two games. One is Christian Whitehead who is known very well for his great attempts for the Sonic Remasters and the other team is working on a new game who have worked on Sonic Colors and Generations.

Its a win win here simply because if one game isn't worth getting, then the other one certainly can. The only thing that would ruin this dream come true situation is if SEGA were to suddenly cancel the games for whatever reason or if they decide to rush the game and just leave it unfinished but at this point, that sounds highly unlikely because well.....considering the fact that SEGA is making lesser games now and not to mention that they are really determined to make quality games this time around, I can't picture this happening one bit!

I do have one nitpick issue though....why isn't this releasing for the 3DS? I can understand the Wii U seeing that system is coming to an end, but the 3DS has a huge library and not to mention that SEGA is in good terms with Nintendo here.

Now I don't mind it too much but still, I would like this to come for the 3DS at the very least cause well.....the 3DS doesn't have that many platform games out there and I'm a huge fan of platform games.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on July 23, 2016, 08:09:57 pm
I wouldn't count out Nintendo platforms just yet for Sonic Mania. As for if it will be digital or physical, at the event we asked and digital is for certain, physical is a big maybe.

George will be posting our full impressions video this week, but i can say that at the event people lost their shit. I had a strong inking that classic Sonic was returning, given all the merchandise features him and Archie finally can use the classic designs. Taxman and Stealth are an obvious choice, and I am very happy that modern SEGA is smart enough to go with the obvious. Looking back, it was kind of clear they were up to something. Stealth made a blog post saying he was no longer working on his fan game, and both he and Taxman had been quiet on Twitter aside from some hints of a paid project.

The game itself is almost everything I've wanted in a sonic game. Lovely retro graphics, fluid animation, great music. Honestly, it's like unearthing a long lost Saturn Sonic game. George played the Studiopolis demo, I played Green Hill. GHZ was basically elements of acts 1,2 and 3 combined with some new touches including a boss in an underground area (similar to Generations underground areas). The boss was tricky, don't expect the usual Eggman wrecking ball. I couldn't hear the music well due to Crush 40 performing. All in all, this game delivers. If you played Sonic 1-3&K, it's like diving right back in without missing a beat. Remember how Sonic 4 felt funny when you kicked off the game for the first time? How it didn't feel like you remembered and you had to retrain your brain? Not here.

Sonic Mania is going to deliver big time, no question. This is probably the best thing to come from the franchise since 1994.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Randroid on July 24, 2016, 01:50:24 am
haha, alright everyone, how many times have you seen the Sonic Mania trailer by now, honestly?

I'm on a stretch of watching live reaction vids for the SMania reveal. Man, it's perfect, just perfect. I'm seeing cheers, tears and nothing but love. The marketing team that put that trailer together nailed it. 2017!!!
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on July 24, 2016, 03:26:44 am
Haha I hear ya. Its surreal waking up the next day and watching the stuff again.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on July 24, 2016, 04:09:48 am
Shout out for whoever produced the trailer btw, it was really well done...
Shame the live stream had sound issues though.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Artwark on July 24, 2016, 04:43:48 am
haha, alright everyone, how many times have you seen the Sonic Mania trailer by now, honestly?

I'm on a stretch of watching live reaction vids for the SMania reveal. Man, it's perfect, just perfect. I'm seeing cheers, tears and nothing but love. The marketing team that put that trailer together nailed it. 2017!!!


Forget the trailer! Just be honest how many times you'd listen to the music offered in this game so far! I just can't stop myself listening to it!!!!!!!


Also, just curious....who is Stealth? I know he did the rom hack for Sonic Genesis and made it proper but what else is he known for?

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on July 24, 2016, 07:21:40 am

Forget the trailer! Just be honest how many times you'd listen to the music offered in this game so far! I just can't stop myself listening to it!!!!!!!


Also, just curious....who is Stealth? I know he did the rom hack for Sonic Genesis and made it proper but what else is he known for?



I believe he was just another prominent figure in the Sonic rom hacking/fan game scene like Christian Whitehead. SEGA have been working with both of them for quite a few years now.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on July 24, 2016, 07:31:02 am
I wouldn't count out Nintendo platforms just yet for Sonic Mania. As for if it will be digital or physical, at the event we asked and digital is for certain, physical is a big maybe.


It is coming to the NX and that is rumoured to be a home and portable console.

Although I haven't quoted it all (too much) I do agree with what you've said. Remember a few years ago wheb SEGA kind of scrapped a bunch of the poor Sonic titles from their library? I'd go so far as to say I'd happily let them do that again for Sonic 4 and stick Mania in it's place.

If I had to have a negative, it would be the Sonic 2017 project. We saw very little beyond the two Sonic's being back and it seemingly having the Generations style of gameplay.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on July 24, 2016, 10:59:18 am
For those wondering who Stealth is, I highly suggest listening to our interview with him discussing the Sonic remasters:

https://youtu.be/S26_mL8U8bg
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Happy Cat on July 24, 2016, 11:08:44 am
The title screen of Sonic Mania is really awesome. The game looks like a lot of fun too. Spring 2017 is pretty far away, but i saw tweets saying the game is going to be longer than Generations, so the extra time should pay off. Gotta love that SEGA wants all their games to be high quality now. The wait should be worth it.

The Sonic Team game is looking interesting too. Looks like they are going for a more serious tone this time compared to the games of recent. I find that exciting. What they did to the Sonic Team logo in the trailer is pretty gritty looking. Hopefully the game isn't super gritty though, I'm just so happy it's not another Lost World.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CoJELxvUIAAlXl9.jpg)

Also interesting to note is it looks like this game was originally planned for 2015
https://twitter.com/BlueParax/status/757234576905371648 (https://twitter.com/BlueParax/status/757234576905371648)

If you don't remember where that is from, it was a poster leaked during a Sonic Licensing expo and it showed both Sonic Boom and a new Sonic game. So, a 2 year delay, pretty crazy. Holiday 2017 is a long long ways away. Just another sign that SEGA is taking their game quality serious I imagine. Good thing we have Sonic Mania relatively early in the year. Makes the wait for Sonic Team's game less painful.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: SonicFan4Life on July 24, 2016, 11:17:46 am
Yes I am so hyped for Sonic Mania. Looks like what Sonic 4 should have been. Cleaner 16 bit style with some updated gameplay mechanics. Looks amazing.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on July 24, 2016, 01:35:55 pm
I have faith that Sonic Team can make a really awesome Sonic game... The biggest concern is WILL they? Lost World is the perfect example of how Sonic Team produce do a quality product, but take it in the wrong direction.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on July 24, 2016, 03:10:14 pm
My Sonic Project 2017 guesses (based on gut instinct and general buzz): The game will essentially be the Sonic 2 equivalent to Generations. No major gameplay changes, but there will be refinements (see how Generations changed from Colors) and new moves. I'm guessing a similar Act 1 (2D) Act 2 (3D) layout. Sonic Team could potentially bring back Classic Tails, introduce Classic Knuckles and Amy, and have them playable in the 2D stages, while the 3D stages could do the same with Shadow, Silver, Knuckles, Tails and others.

As far as story, my guess is a Days of Future Past style story which kicks off just as Generations did with a playable level – but this time as Modern Sonic in a apocalyptic setting. Like Unleashed, we could be thrown into the midst of a battle, but this time Eggman is about to take over the world and cause serious damage. Perhaps Sonic travels back in time (a la X-Men DOFP) to stop Eggman and teams up with Classic Sonic, going through time to build up a resistance against Eggman for a final battle. No throwback stages, everything is brand new, but perhaps (like Sonic Mania) we will see retro-inspired settings. Story will likely be darker, to appeal to the SA2 crowd.

A year and a half is still a ways off, so I think they are testing the waters to see how people reacted to both Classic Sonic and the dark setting, seeing which way people want the feel of the story to go.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on July 24, 2016, 05:02:35 pm
My Sonic Project 2017 guesses (based on gut instinct and general buzz): The game will essentially be the Sonic 2 equivalent to Generations. No major gameplay changes, but there will be refinements (see how Generations changed from Colors) and new moves. I'm guessing a similar Act 1 (2D) Act 2 (3D) layout.

Yep that is exactly what I am hoping for... That's GOOD FUTURE. The gameplay of Generations and Colours is perfect for Sonic. Just get the controls as refined as possible and I'll be over the moon.

Also a little talked about feature of Sonic Generations that I loved was how you could choose your moveset, like speed boosts, double jump that kind of stuff... And basically build the Sonic you wanted to control. I have no idea why nobody talks about how awesome that was.


Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on July 24, 2016, 05:08:14 pm
I really like the idea of them going for the 'future days' soft reboot with the 3D series. SEGA are clearly aware they've made mistakes and mishandled the series over the years and this could act as a fresh start going forward.

I'm not too concerned with what we saw so far, as it was only a peak. It could have easily have been a level like crisis city or the final boss in SA1. What's important is what it showed. They seemed to be building on the Generations and Colours foundations which is great to see and I really hope we that go in the right direction.

Whatever the case, SEGA are clearly trying really hard and I hope it pays off.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on July 24, 2016, 05:34:50 pm

Anyway, does anyone think that the 2017 teaser might possibly be 'in-engine' for the next game? It doesn't look like the usual Sonic CGI I would expect from Marza, some textures, the animations look a little stiffer than Marza's style... it has an 'in-engine' with pp/effects added, sort of look.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CoKV2XKXYAQW3hJ.jpg)

Some of the background rubble like textures in this look very in-engine.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CoKWLOzWcAAyxYD.jpg)


These textures look in engine to me, Sonics 'fur' for example.
(http://i0.wp.com/gameranx.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/SonicProject2017Featured.png?fit=1400%2C900)



Here is Generations CGI by Marza to compare:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmm5mwJUd9M

I may be totally wrong, anyone who knows more about this kind of thing care to have a say?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on July 24, 2016, 05:37:43 pm
Terrible event, but the 2 Sonic games are just what I hopped for... Sonic Mania looks like a 16 bit fans dream and Project Sonic looks to be Generations II in all but name and Sonic Team have done wonders in making the game truly multiplatform to even the PC and NX and full marks to SEGA/Sammy for giving the team years to make this game - it should look,sound and play amazing .

Maybe the PR was true , SEGA really have changed and now its about quality . Well done SEGA and Sonic Team 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on July 24, 2016, 05:42:38 pm
Anyway, does anyone think that the 2017 teaser might possibly be 'in-engine' for the next game? It doesn't look like the usual Sonic CGI I would expect from Marza, some textures, the animations look a little stiffer than Marza's style... it has an 'in-engine' with pp/effects added, sort of look.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CoKV2XKXYAQW3hJ.jpg)

Some of the background rubble like textures in this look very in-engine.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CoKWLOzWcAAyxYD.jpg)


These textures look in engine to me, Sonics 'fur' for example.
(http://i0.wp.com/gameranx.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/SonicProject2017Featured.png?fit=1400%2C900)



Here is Generations CGI by Marza to compare:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmm5mwJUd9M

I may be totally wrong, anyone who knows more about this kind of thing care to have a say?

I thought it was in-game when I saw it on Twitch live  I must admit . I think what ever the case this will simply be a stunning looking game . Sonic Team really been on the ball the last few years and thier next gen pipe lines are up to the task
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on July 24, 2016, 05:51:27 pm
Most people are talking about it as if it is a CGI trailer and I think it is being reported as such... But from looking closely either the CGI they use for Sonic has dipped in quality (maybe Marza are busy on the film and they got a B team to do it.) Or its in-engine with a some post processing effects.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on July 24, 2016, 05:53:19 pm
Terrible event, but the 2 Sonic games are just what I hopped for... Sonic Mania looks like a 16 bit fans dream and Project Sonic looks to be Generations II in all but name and Sonic Team have done wonders in making the game truly multiplatform to even the PC and NX and full marks to SEGA/Sammy for giving the team years to make this game - it should look,sound and play amazing .

Maybe the PR was true , SEGA really have changed and now its about quality . Well done SEGA and Sonic Team 

Were you at the event? The event itself was awesome, the stream (from what I've heard) had major issues (thanks SEGA Europe). So no, I would not call the event terrible at all. It was probably the best Sonic fan event yet, but the coverage was badly handled (thanks SEGA Europe).
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on July 24, 2016, 06:00:27 pm
Were you at the event?

No I watched the streaming over Twitch and while the games was what I hoped they would be (thought I really would have liked a Sonic Adv HD collection and a All Stars Racing II). The event was just really painful to watch , with not the best presdenters and the timing way off and it just looked poorly planed.

That said I really couldn't careless it was the game that I cared about 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on July 24, 2016, 06:01:36 pm
Most people are talking about it as if it is a CGI trailer and I think it is being reported as such... But from looking closely either the CGI they use for Sonic has dipped in quality (maybe Marza are busy on the film and they got a B team to do it.) Or its in-engine with a some post processing effects.

Its most prob CG, but all based around the game engine I would guess . So I bet the final game will not be far off at all
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Radrappy on July 24, 2016, 10:34:30 pm
Anyway, does anyone think that the 2017 teaser might possibly be 'in-engine' for the next game? It doesn't look like the usual Sonic CGI I would expect from Marza, some textures, the animations look a little stiffer than Marza's style... it has an 'in-engine' with pp/effects added, sort of look.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CoKV2XKXYAQW3hJ.jpg)

Some of the background rubble like textures in this look very in-engine.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CoKWLOzWcAAyxYD.jpg)


These textures look in engine to me, Sonics 'fur' for example.
(http://i0.wp.com/gameranx.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/SonicProject2017Featured.png?fit=1400%2C900)



Here is Generations CGI by Marza to compare:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmm5mwJUd9M

I may be totally wrong, anyone who knows more about this kind of thing care to have a say?

No you're absolutely right.  This is NOT Marza's work.  They usually put a lot more care into their stuff.  I would assume that this was actually produced by sonic team using upscaled assets as you've already guessed.  It reminds me of the Rio Olympics intro video in that regard.  Marza must be too busy right now but hopefully they contribute to the actual game when the time comes. 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on July 24, 2016, 10:50:31 pm
I found it odd that a bulk of Marza's work on Generations never made it into the game (not even as a pre-title screen video) and a bulk of it was underutilized and chopped up, appearing in the occasional advert.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Radrappy on July 24, 2016, 11:02:26 pm
I found it odd that a bulk of Marza's work on Generations never made it into the game (not even as a pre-title screen video) and a bulk of it was underutilized and chopped up, appearing in the occasional advert.

That also creeped me out!  It left me thinking "Ok what ELSE did they animate that we maybe haven't seen?"
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on July 25, 2016, 03:25:51 am
Were you at the ...? ... was awesome, th-e-e-e-e stream (hanks SEGA Europe). bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz SEGA Europe).
bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ab_uwX_YcE
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on July 25, 2016, 08:28:12 am
No joking, I told a Totino's employee that I was Totino the pizza boy and an old school pizza freak and they totally gave me more Totino's.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on July 25, 2016, 10:26:04 am
I have re-watched this almost as much as I have watched the trailers. This is a magical, magical moment for me in Sonic history.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ_KLOclwSQ
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on July 25, 2016, 11:16:53 am
I totally forgot that they recorded the room shouting "SEGA" for a Sonic Mania title screen easter egg. I'd guess, you hold down a button or something to hear the alternate SEGA intro with a bunch of drunk sweaty fans shouting the company's name.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on July 25, 2016, 04:45:54 pm
Watching that Crush 40 fail is difficult. I think Crush 40 worked well for the tone they were after back in the early 00, but it hasn't aged well at all. The nostalgia trip was pretty cool in Generations with the remixes too, but I think it's time to go back to the non vocal stuff.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on July 25, 2016, 04:50:32 pm
It's so funny to see the stream reaction to the event, given the event itself was awesome. It's like... I and many others paid a fair chunk of change to fly out to the event and it was well worth it, meanwhile people who sat home and watched it for free and encountered streaming issues for the first hour and a half – while the trailers themselves posted in high quality on YouTube within moments of each reveal – they see fit to moan on about how shitty it was. Jim Sterling is the worst offender. The event in no way compared to whatever he plucked out of his ass (was it the Sony one?) as aside from a delay in getting the Mania trailer to play, everything went off without a hitch. It's like people want to form some narrative of how the event was a failure. So weird, but expected.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on July 25, 2016, 04:58:07 pm
Jim is a shitlord with lame opinions.

Also, Crush40 didn't fail in the least. This was an event for fans. See non fans complain on YouTube is a waste of both our times, and only a complete moron (like Jim Sterling) would do so.


As a fan I loved every bit of it, even if the stream was hilariously maintained. It was a fun event, with great content, and most importantly people had a lot of fun, which is what the Sonic and Sega communities are all about.


I don't want to be Sony or whatever. I want this. Exactly this.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on July 25, 2016, 05:27:57 pm
It's so funny to see the stream reaction to the event, given the event itself was awesome. It's like... I and many others paid a fair chunk of change to fly out to the event and it was well worth it, meanwhile people who sat home and watched it for free and encountered streaming issues for the first hour and a half – while the trailers themselves posted in high quality on YouTube within moments of each reveal – they see fit to moan on about how shitty it was. Jim Sterling is the worst offender. The event in no way compared to whatever he plucked out of his ass (was it the Sony one?) as aside from a delay in getting the Mania trailer to play, everything went off without a hitch. It's like people want to form some narrative of how the event was a failure. So weird, but expected.

It's become a thing now to bash Sonic sadly. Granted, SEGA haven't helped with 06, Boom etc, but because of said titles, they're easy pickings for the poor critics this industry is plagued with sadly.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Happy Cat on July 25, 2016, 07:29:26 pm
From an interview in 2012, maybe what we can expect from this game graphically

Quote
But what will the extra horsepower mean for Sonic?

"I don't think Sonic will ever become photo-real," Iizuka said. "I think Sonic will always remain stylised and will have that bright, colourful world. What the high hardware spec will allow us to do is make that more convincing.

"For example, for Sonic Generations, in the Hedgehog Engine, we used Global Illumination - GI technology - for the lighting system. But increasing the hardware spec will allow us to have real-time lighting calculations, so dynamically changing lighting happening. That's just one example of where the hardware is limiting us in doing what we really could do. So by having higher end hardware spec, we'll be able to do, for example, the real-time lighting calculations. That will give more presence to Sonic.

"We're not after realism. We're after making it more convincing. So we're still going for that stylised, bright and colourful Sonic look. We're not going for photo-real."

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-03-14-takashi-iizuka-outlines-vision-for-sonic-on-ps4-next-xbox
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on July 25, 2016, 07:49:42 pm
Jim is a shitlord with lame opinions.

Jim is by far the most tell it like it is guy in the industry... I don't always agree with him, but 90% of the time he is totally on the money. And he's a pretty funny guy too.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on July 26, 2016, 01:46:34 am
I would absolutely destroy him in a real life conversation.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on July 26, 2016, 02:19:13 am
It's become a thing now to bash Sonic sadly. Granted, SEGA haven't helped with 06, Boom etc, but because of said titles, they're easy pickings for the poor critics this industry is plagued with sadly.

That's sadly a internet fad and that's why it becomes sort of cool and where its nice to be part of a gang knocking certain games; sadly its seems to be fair game to knock 7 bells out of Sonic, Call of Duty and Resident Evil and well anything from EA or Ubisoft these days ...

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on July 26, 2016, 02:28:57 am
It's so funny to see the stream reaction to the event, given the event itself was awesome. It's like... I and many others paid a fair chunk of change to fly out to the event and it was well worth it, meanwhile people who sat home and watched it for free and encountered streaming issues for the first hour and a half

Being at event in person is totally different... Every E3 show for  the last 3 years or so to me Nintendo E3 shows as been a total car crash, but those who were there all seem to have loved it . I guess when you're there in person and get to see some of the staff for real , its different to how it comes across on TV - where the its games you care about and not the sort of extra's and good stuff you can only get if you're at a event in person


 I myself , despite having to be up and in work by 07.00 AM Saturday morning for a 12 and half hour shift,  got up early before 1Am Saturday  to stream the event over Twitch on my X Box One with less than 3  hours sleep . For that effort,  all  I saw was presenters missing their cue's  endless and constantly overlooking their shoulders  not seemingly  knowing what quite what happening next or when to pass over to the next link .
I also thought the stage Q&E with the Sonic Team to be a waste of time and despite being told to stay until the end of the show for something special.. all we got was a announcement and not even a gameplay section of Project Sonic (which really what we should have even if it was just 5 to 10 sec's worth.

I'm not knocking the games or the team, but the way it was presented and played out as show for viewers  and the crushing disappointment of no gameplay being shown
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on July 26, 2016, 06:29:33 am
I would absolutely destroy him in a real life conversation.

Okay.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on July 26, 2016, 07:07:46 am
No simpathy for those who lack humility, even more so when they criticize talented peoples work
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on July 26, 2016, 12:01:27 pm
For those wondering who Stealth is, I highly suggest listening to our interview with him discussing the Sonic remasters:

https://youtu.be/S26_mL8U8bg
This was a great listen. Thanks for posting it
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on July 26, 2016, 01:08:08 pm
No simpathy for those who lack humility, even more so when they criticize talented peoples work

That's called a critic.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on July 26, 2016, 01:15:37 pm
That's called a critic.
There are a whole lot of critics that aren't douchebags.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on July 26, 2016, 01:28:31 pm
This was a great listen. Thanks for posting it

Thanks! I really need to relisten with what we know now in mind. I'll try and get Taxman on for a show in the near future. Shouldn't be an issue due to our Retro connections.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on July 26, 2016, 01:40:25 pm
No simpathy for those who lack humility, even more so when they criticize talented peoples work

Its depends on wherever or not its valid. If its just knocking a game or even for the shake of it , then I hate that too, but its its genuine issues then that's fair .

To me the event wasn't the best  and you can say I don't want to be SONY and all that, I just wanted SEGA and Sonic Team to put on a good show and given the Media age we live in  then its imporant to get the PR right . To me the best Sonic show SEGA put on was showing off Sonic Adv for the 1st time in Japan in 1998 for the Sonic Adv  presentation

Not only did we see the game in action, get some serious nice interviews with the staff, live music from the bad, videos of Sonic Team  1996 S.American research  trip form the game,  plenty of Sonic promotional stuff, look at the Sonic Team studio and staff, the staff making fun and having a laugh at them self's . Sonic Team even had everyone in attendance to shout out 'Sonic'  a number of times  so the team could record the actual  crowd chants to put inthe final game (when you become Super Sonic for the end boss battle in Sonic ADV)  That was class touch and typical of forward thinking of SEGA at the time.

That to me was far better and how you really pull off a Sonic event and that was back in 1998

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjQLvTwoyhA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjQLvTwoyhA)


https://youtu.be/GE_4HC6LVBU?t=4m59s (https://youtu.be/GE_4HC6LVBU?t=4m59s)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on July 26, 2016, 01:44:22 pm
That would be pretty cool. He's very much a Sonic fan at heart and he knows his stuff.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on July 26, 2016, 01:53:23 pm
TA, what if that event was streamed online and the stream was of subpar quality. Would that have lessened the impact?

Because as far as everyone that in fact was there, the event was excelent.

That's the point. If it wasn't the stream issues  some people would nitpick anything else.

Many people want everything Sega to fail, and are determined to put up a supercut before the event is even halfway through just to trashtalk it afterwards. Yes, I'm specifically talking about Jim Sterling.
Valid points don't justify being trash.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on July 26, 2016, 02:08:47 pm
I dont know why you're so upset about it... In general most of his videos are well throught out and generally really good. You don't have to agree with everything he says but he's usually right in most of his critisims including the ones of SEGA.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on July 26, 2016, 02:36:50 pm
Stream had issues for the first hour and a half, after that it worked well. The issue was, there was "So Much More" to the event than a stage show, but the stream largely only showed the stage. This wasn't an E3 Press Conference, it was a fan event with a ton of stuff happening and the stage was just a piece of it. TBH, I think fans were lucky to get what they got with the stream, and it was good planning on SEGA's part to make the trailers live immediately.

Stream itself: hit-or-miss. Trailers and announcements: largely hits. Actual event: Tons of fun and one of SEGA's best Sonic events yet.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on July 26, 2016, 02:49:18 pm
So here is the entire explanation of the stream issues: https://twitter.com/HunterBridges/status/758008405231403008
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on July 26, 2016, 03:16:38 pm
TA, what if that event was streamed online and the stream was of subpar quality. Would that have lessened the impact?

Back in August 22nd  1998 , I was having to watch various videos of SEGA Sonic pretensions on a crappy 33.6 modem in god awful quick time format on the likes of game-online  and the Sonic Adv event  was still far better than what I saw was Saturday morning over Twitch and this is in the age of online steaming 1080p style over Fibre 

The whole Sonic ADv showing back on that day and the way we saw the Sonic Team was done and handled so much better and having Mr Segatan Sanshirio wipp the crowd into a frenzy and having them chat Sonic over 10 times to used inthe final game a touch of SEGA class . We got none of that with this show and not even anything to really see of the main game; that was crushing after having to sit through a event with bad links and so called presenters looking over their shoulders and seemingly not knowing quite what happing next or when to cut to the next link .
I was a bit peed off, considering I had less than 4 hours sleep and was having to go into work for a 12 and half Hr shift too ,it really made me think what the hell did I get up early for .  I'm not knocking the game or the team, just the way the show was handled and promoted.

If I was at any gaming show with people who shared the same love of a game or company as I do, then its a given I would have a good time,  regardless of what was shown off or the way it was shown on TV more so if I had stuff to take home and see some of the staff who's work I admire and love in person

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on July 26, 2016, 04:39:53 pm
I dont know why you're so upset about it...
Because calling the event a "shitshow" for click-money makes me upset, as it should any Sega/Sonic fan. His Jimquisition is a shitshow, a shitshow this event was not.

Ok TA, I can agree with you. I did enjoy it regardless.
I wish Sega could have a strong E3 presence again someday.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on July 26, 2016, 05:15:47 pm
Because calling the event a "shitshow" for click-money makes me upset, as it should any Sega/Sonic fan. His Jimquisition is a shitshow, a shitshow this event was not.

Like I said, I don't agree with everything he says but his show isn't a shit-show at all. He's one of the most honest and well articulated critics of videogames at the moment. Swearing and being a gobshite is draws in the crowds but below that he's clearly very clever. Just watch some Jimquisitions that don't involve things that'll make you emotional and you'll see.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on July 27, 2016, 02:55:29 am
he swears and acts like a gobshite because otherwise he would be as forgettable as everyother self-entitled "videogame pundit".

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on July 27, 2016, 03:16:07 am
he swears and acts like a gobshite because otherwise he would be as forgettable as everyother self-entitled "videogame pundit".



I disagree, but this is getting off topic so we'll agree to disagree.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on July 27, 2016, 03:17:25 am
Ok TA, I can agree with you. I did enjoy it regardless.
I wish Sega could have a strong E3 presence again someday.
I'm really glad you did, honestly; But if I was at event held by a company I love a game series I happen to like, full of like minded people then its odds on I would have a ace time too, more so if you come home with goodies and also seeing some of the staff that work for the corp and the games that I love .
But as a show streamed the to world, it wasn't great and to be told to stay till the end of the show for something special and it be worth it: only to see a small trailer with no gameplay what so ever , was a total and utter letdown.

BTW its not about wanting SEGA to have a great E3 again. The Sonic Adv event I talk off was SEGA Japan special event to show off Sonic for the 1st time on the Dreamcast when they held a special event way back in August 22nd 1998 .

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on July 27, 2016, 03:20:10 am
he swears and acts like a gobshite because otherwise he would be as forgettable as everyother self-entitled "videogame pundit".



He's loving his own hype granted  and also I hate constant swearing (and don't swear myself personally) . But quite a lot of what he says is well researched and its quite oblivious he'ls playing or played the games he's passing comments on . His Star Fox Zero review was spot on for starters     
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on July 27, 2016, 03:34:57 am
I disagree, but this is getting off topic so we'll agree to disagree.
That is fair. I just think some people (even here on SegaBits) have a much better grasp of the gaming industry and what makes a game good, and their opinion is just as (if not more) valid than his. Yet, I'm hearing people constantly referring to him when the Sonic event comes into discussion, solely because he is capitalizing on the fact that many people want Sega to fail (for various reasons).
He may do good research and be well articulate, but that isn't enough of a justification for this sort of attitude. It's cancerous.

Quote
only to see a small trailer with no gameplay what so ever , was a total and utter letdown.
I felt the same on that regard.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on July 27, 2016, 08:05:19 am
The focus is on Mania for now, which is fine. A year and a half is a long ways out and TBH this is probably the longest lead time we have had on a Sonic game in a long time. Generations, Lost World and Colors were debuted within eight months of releases whereas here we have over 16 months to go. I'm fine with the tease we got, gives us enough to speculate on before the proper reveal. And like I said, we have Mania which has more than enough to talk about and is likely 8 months away.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on July 27, 2016, 08:12:10 am
is likely 8 months away.
Maybe we'll get a demo sooner
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on July 27, 2016, 08:19:16 am
I'm fine with the tease we got, gives us enough to speculate on before the proper reveal. And like I said, we have Mania which has more than enough to talk about and is likely 8 months away.

I'm not . I rather the team didn't talk or tease a game at all and left it till they had something to show off . Its been like 5 years since the team made Generations (it took 5 years to make Shenmue). So the team should have had something to show off or is the game only now entering production ? 

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on July 27, 2016, 09:29:24 am
I'm not . I rather the team didn't talk or tease a game at all and left it till they had something to show off . Its been like 5 years since the team made Generations (it took 5 years to make Shenmue). So the team should have had something to show off or is the game only now entering production ? 



At least some of them worked on Sonic Lost World
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on July 27, 2016, 09:31:01 am
Like I said, the focus is on Mania but they wanted to tease the Project Sonic 2017 game at the event. I don't think there's a reason to be upset over it not being a full trailer with the title and gameplay, it was a teaser – and a good one at that, what with Classic Sonic's return and the whole Eggman has finally won aspect. I'm certain they do have things they could show off, but they wisely decided to wait so as to not take the focus away from Mania.

Lucasfilm does this. They could be easily teasing Episode VIII right now, but Rogue One is the focus until 2017.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on July 27, 2016, 10:14:24 am
Like I said, the focus is on Mania but they wanted to tease the Project Sonic 2017 game at the event. I don't think there's a reason to be upset over it not being a full trailer with the title and gameplay, it was a teaser – and a good one at that, what with Classic Sonic's return and the whole Eggman has finally won aspect. I'm certain they do have things they could show off, but they wisely decided to wait so as to not take the focus away from Mania.

Lucasfilm does this. They could be easily teasing Episode VIII right now, but Rogue One is the focus until 2017.

Yep SEGA did the same with Warhammer Total War and Dawn of War 3... DoW3 was ready to be shown last year for sure... But they staggered it so that neither game would take focus away from each other.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on July 27, 2016, 10:32:21 am
I can understand why people wanted to see more on Sonic 2017, but I'm also happy to wait. Mania is the focus right now and we're also seeing a clear direction from SEGA and the Sonic team. That's biggest take away from all this to me, as this is exactly what SEGA were talking about when they spoke about improving quality.

Fire & Ice has had more time, Mania is being made by known talent who understand Sonic, Sonic Team have clearly talked about the direction of the 3D Sonic titles and stepped back into the Generations style for a completely new and fully fleshed out game - with refinements I suspect.

It's all looking rather good right now and I'm far more optimistic about the Sonic series now more than ever.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on July 27, 2016, 11:55:31 am
At least some of them worked on Sonic Lost World

That's a fair point , but that's was 3 years ago . Sonic Team really should have had something to show off or rather just wait until they did . Not to be told by people at SEGA America to wait until the end of the show for something special .



We already knew the game was coming after all, though it was nice to see what platforms it would be on I guess

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on July 27, 2016, 11:59:37 am
Like I said, the focus is on Mania but they wanted to tease the Project Sonic 2017 game at the event. .
 

I didn't think the main focus was Mania either, SEGA didn't show much of that off tbh , but at least we go to see the game in action . That's what's gamer and fans want . Not CGI intro's and flashy trailers .I think it backfired on Sonic Team somewhat, because most of the Internet talk is of how bad the show was , rather that did you see that Sonic 2017 game it looked amazing ... I simply can't wait to play it .

Really I susbejct SONIC Team not only have a amazing game but also a amazing next gen engines and they really should have just shown off 5 to 10 sec's of gameplay to get the fans talking and the buzz going .
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on July 27, 2016, 12:03:10 pm
Bit weird I know, but what do we think the story of Sonic 2017 will be? I know in the end, it'll be straight forward, but going by the trailer, it seems to me there's a bit more in it this time. As me and Barry previously discussed, it seems like they're going for the soft reboot like Days of Future Past with Robotnik messing with time.

I wonder if modern Sonic will have to go back and stop modern Robotnik and we'll see the previous adventures wiped away in some way. Saying that, there doesn't seem to actually be a timeline anyway.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on July 27, 2016, 12:58:21 pm
Bit weird I know, but what do we think the story of Sonic 2017 will be? I know in the end, it'll be straight forward, but going by the trailer, it seems to me there's a bit more in it this time. As me and Barry previously discussed, it seems like they're going for the soft reboot like Days of Future Past with Robotnik messing with time.

I wonder if modern Sonic will have to go back and stop modern Robotnik and we'll see the previous adventures wiped away in some way. Saying that, there doesn't seem to actually be a timeline anyway.

I dont think theres a real timeline for Sonic games... They all exist in their own little bubbles, some are sequals like Sonic 1 2 and 3k... Adventure 1 and 2... Colours and Lost World... But mostly they seem unconnected.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on July 27, 2016, 01:37:12 pm
Bit weird I know, but what do we think the story of Sonic 2017 will be? I know in the end, it'll be straight forward, but going by the trailer, it seems to me there's a bit more in it this time. As me and Barry previously discussed, it seems like they're going for the soft reboot like Days of Future Past with Robotnik messing with time.

I wonder if modern Sonic will have to go back and stop modern Robotnik and we'll see the previous adventures wiped away in some way. Saying that, there doesn't seem to actually be a timeline anyway.

I don't think they will go that far, but I do think they are going for that "darkest timeline" sort of story where shit hits the fan, Sonic calls on his friends from both past and present, and they take on Eggman. I feel that if time travel does play a part, it will mainly be when Classic Sonic is called upon and perhaps a good/bad future mechanic like Sonic CD.

I dont think theres a real timeline for Sonic games... They all exist in their own little bubbles, some are sequals like Sonic 1 2 and 3k... Adventure 1 and 2... Colours and Lost World... But mostly they seem unconnected.

SEGA and Sonic Team do have a bible that they reference, so there is a loose continuity there. From what I've gathered, the Genesis/Mega Drive originals are forever the backstory and that, like Sonic X, there exists two worlds (humans and animals) that have since merged. This is why Iizuka said in an interview back in 2010 that some games take place in the human world (Adeventure, Adventure 2, Unleashed) and some in the animal world (Heroes, Colors, Generations) however in a recent interview with Aaron Webber he clarified this a little by saying that these two worlds are two planets. So there was our Earth and Sonic's Earth but they have since merged.

Personally, for the sake of sanity, Aaron likes to think of each era and storyline as its own contained world. I agree with him on this. I mean, yeah, retroactively Sonic Team's bible could say that the Genesis/MD storyline was on Sonic's world and Eggman crossed worlds to get there, and Sonic and friends traveled to the Human world in Sonic Adventure either through a portal or a dimensional shift that merged the two. I think Sonic Team's new explanation was made just to explain the shift between the 16-bit era and the Dreamcast era.

However, in reality (like, our reality where they're just games) I think SEGA and Sonic Team was never quite certain on an overarching explanation for where the games are set and why there are humans and talking animals.

---

I categorize the games this way:

Genesis/Mega Drive Era: Sonic, Sonic CD, Sonic 2, Sonic 3 & Knuckles

Dreamcast/Sixth Generation Hardware Era: Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Heroes, Shadow the Hedgehog

Failed Reboot: Sonic 2006 (events of Sonic 1 through Shadow the Hedgehog serve as backstory, but series was starting fresh with new designs and direction)

Modern Era: Sonic Unleashed, Sonic Colors, Sonic Generations (which brought Sonic '06 into the Modern Era by referencing it), Sonic Lost World, Project Sonic 2017

I would also say that there was another failed era, which was Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episodes 1&2 which tried to expand on the Genesis/Mega Drive Era. I totally believe that had Sonic 4 been a success, we would have seen Episode 3 wrap Sonic 4 up and a Sonic 5, Sonic 6, etc. Not a reboot, but an expansion. Sonic Mania is now SEGA's second attempt to go back in time and expand on the Genesis/Mega Drive era, basically a Sonic 4 redo.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on July 27, 2016, 02:35:33 pm
This is not meant to be rude, but that's a very Japanese way of handling a timeline where it splits or previous adventures are just ignored. It's something that seems to happen a lot in Japan and I think it works for certain games, but I do find it annoy in others like Zelda for example.

The split for Sonic between gens, does make sense though as they have changed quite a bit from gen to gen. Also, not to sound harsh, but like a lot of platformers, Sonic doesn't really have a deep rich law behind it anyway, so it's not really an issue. It just annoys me when games that try to start the foundations of one only to drop it in the next installment or go on a side quest.

Although Sonic 4 was a continuation of the Mega Drive era, it was different enough to warrant maybe calling it another timeline or something. If Sonic Mania is good, I'd probably but that in the Gen timeline personally as it shares a lot more in common by looks, sounds and gameplay than Sonic 4.


Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on July 27, 2016, 03:05:53 pm
The Genesis timeline is probably the strongest, most coherent, of all of them. And when you tack on SA1-Shadow, it only expands it (though some would argue if it improves it).

Sonic '06 was where things went south, and Unleashed seemed to establish that they were going game by game with only very loose connections. I did really like how the ending of Colors tied in with how Eggman discovered Time Eater, and how Generations sort of tied all the eras together. A shame Lost World was really disconnected from the rest, though I'm hoping Project 2017 goes back to the light continuity.

I know people should play Sonic games for the gameplay, but it doesn't hurt to have an interesting story. One thing that really sets Sonic apart from Mario is that the characters have personalities and interact with each other. It's nothing new, I mean look back at Sonic & Knuckles. No words were spoken, but we totally understood the character's relationships and attitudes.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on July 27, 2016, 03:42:58 pm
I agree, it doesn't need to be amazing, but some story adds a lot to any game. I'd say SLW was a separate story away from Colours, Generations as it's again so different. Kind of like this:

Beginning: Sonic 1, CD, 2, 3, Mania(?).
00s: SA1, SA2, SHeroes.
Modern: Unleashed, Colours, Generations

The rest are side stories, spin offs and failed attempts (of which, only 3).
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Randroid on July 27, 2016, 03:56:15 pm
I like how you guys categorize the games. I agree mostly.

The only difference would be I would categorize Sonic CD apart from the rest of the Gen/MD titles. Reason being, the in-world mechanics are different. In Gen/MD enemies are converted animals, where in CD they sprout flowers when broken.

I thinking Mania would probably fall into that series. They're named the same way (Sonic + Gimmick) and I think their artstyle and music match more closely than anything from Sonic 2 and beyond.

Either way, I'm hyped. I agree with Barry. Gen/MD was the strongest timeline conceptually IMO. I don't agree that SA1 - 06 Expanded it. It feel that it turned it into something else completely, for the worst. Still fun, but not the same impact conceptually. As soon as they placed Sonic in a world with humans beyond Robotnik, it just wasn't the same and didn't work for me.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on July 27, 2016, 05:15:52 pm
Sure we've spoken about this before, but I think humans were always there. I mean, Robotnik is human isn't he?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Randroid on July 27, 2016, 05:46:46 pm
Sure we've spoken about this before, but I think humans were always there. I mean, Robotnik is human isn't he?

He's very stylized though to the point where he doesn't really look like any normal person.

Also, it's pretty telling that sole human you ever seen is the main and only villain, as the main focus of all the Gen/MD games is environmentalism. It's pretty clear that he doesn't belong in Sonic's world. It's as though he was dropped in and the whole point of the games is to neutralize his efforts.

Kind of brilliant really, and SA1 - 06 ruins all of that. The environmentalist message is completely gone by then. From SA1 on, you're stopping Robotnik from taking over the world, not stopping him from ruining the world environmentally.

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: George on July 27, 2016, 07:27:25 pm
Its funny that people are upset that its not Sonic Adventure 3. I think the best thing Sonic Team could do is get aspects that people liked from the past 3D games and polish them up in its own title. I think using a name like 'Adventure 3' is a lose/lose situation. For example: Adventure 1/2 are very different in terms of layout and tone. Like, Adventure was more light hearted compared to 2, plus it was more open designed. So either way it would make fans of one of those two games mad.

Project Sonic 2017 could have a open world like Adventure, but all levels based around Classic/Modern Sonic like Generations instead of side characters that weren't really that fun to play (see Sonic Adventure 2 where the best levels where Sonic/Shadow) and a grim dark story cuz ya know the fans love that stuff.

But hey, Sonic Mania looks great.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: FlareHabanero on July 27, 2016, 09:59:32 pm
Trying to pad out the game by throwing in a bunch of weird gimmicks that don't work, failing to tell a narrative (especially since they're trying to be "edgy" again), dumping a lot of the effort into the graphics and sound, trying to pander to a fanbase that doesn't know what the hell it even wants. I know where the Sonic Team title is going before I even see gameplay.


Not even trying to be negative, at this point the problems with the Sonic games by Sonic Team are becoming a cliche. Not helping is that game isn't "Sonic Generations 2" despite the implications, so there isn't even a "safety net" of sorts.


At least with Sonic Mania the people involved clearly care about the franchise and it's showing, while with Sonic Team it just feels like the typical stubborn Japanese businessman mentality preventing progress.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on July 27, 2016, 11:30:56 pm
Thanks! I really need to relisten with what we know now in mind. I'll try and get Taxman on for a show in the near future. Shouldn't be an issue due to our Retro connections.
That would be fantastic. Gotta say that I like like listening to you guys in general.

Anyway ive been thinking about this game a lot lately. Also about how great, passionate and taltented the sonic community is. Its absolutly fantastic to see them get the recognition like this.

Although taxman has so far only made 1:1 remakes so far, im looking forward to see how their own built game is going to be. The level design so far has looked absolutly promising, but what would be even greater is if they improved on how sonic games from sonicteam have usually been balanced.

You see as getting older ive been appreciatimg the thrill of challenge and being kept on my toes more and more. Its made sonic 1 become a lot more satisfactory for me through the years compared to the others for me personally.

What I would love to see with sonic mania for example is if the latter half of the game becomes a non cheap legitimate challenging game. Make it so that theres enough content for those who play sonic for the mindless fun, and enough content for those who love to feel some thrills. I really dislike seeing how a lot of fans dont appreciate challenge in sonic games, and usually consider it horrible design when sonic games ask more than mostly pressing right and jump. Sonic games should be able to have both and be liked for both imo. It should just be properly balanced and those cheap mother***kers should stfu..... Yeah I just had a moment there


Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on July 28, 2016, 05:02:49 am


Kind of brilliant really, and SA1 - 06 ruins all of that. The environmentalist message is completely gone by then. From SA1 on, you're stopping Robotnik from taking over the world, not stopping him from ruining the world environmentally.



Sonic was always meant be in the world with humans and also have a human girlfriend

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym2ve5_YD60 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym2ve5_YD60)


(http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/sonic/images/d/dc/Madonna.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20090313035151)



 



Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on July 28, 2016, 05:13:25 am
As soon as they placed Sonic in a world with humans beyond Robotnik, it just wasn't the same and didn't work for me.
They didn't.. He was already there, you just didn't see the other humans.
Who do you think lives in the buildings seen in Starlight Zone? Animals?

Quote
From SA1 on, you're stopping Robotnik from taking over the world, not stopping him from ruining the world environmentally.

Directly from the Sonic 2 manual:
This time, Robotnik's planning a global disaster. He needs workers to create a doomsday machine that can take over the world. So he's trapping all the animals, turning them into robots, and forcing them to build his ultimate weapon, the Death Egg!

It's not environmentalism.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on July 28, 2016, 05:22:29 am
They didn't.. He was already there, you just didn't see the other humans.

Yep and lets all remember Sonic is  a Hedgehog and a Hedgehog is animal from earth, not a alien lifeform .
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on July 28, 2016, 12:32:51 pm
Really indepth look at Sonic Mania by 'GameXplain' worth a watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSB_APVzwyY
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Randroid on July 28, 2016, 12:47:48 pm
Concept art, interviews and manuals aside, Sonic 1 - 3nK has no humans in it aside from Robotnik.

Crackdude, you parsed my message incorrectly. Obviously, Robotnik is taking over the world, but, the result of his efforts in the first 3 games is environmental disaster. Chemical Plants, Oil Oceans, Flying Batteries firebombing. THAT aspect is missing from SA1+. From SA1 onward Robotnik is taking over an already developed world.

You guys seriously can't see the Nature vs Man aspect of first 3 games?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on July 28, 2016, 01:18:31 pm
Nature vs Man is clearly there, but it's subtle.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Randroid on July 28, 2016, 02:22:36 pm
Nature vs Man is clearly there, but it's subtle.

Agreed. Awesome Possum is the unsubtle version.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on July 28, 2016, 05:44:35 pm
Concept art, interviews and manuals aside, Sonic 1 - 3nK has no humans in it aside from Robotnik.

That's because Sega America cut the back story of Sonic and also his love interest . Come the time of the DC Sega America had little market share to force Somic Team to do what they suggest.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Randroid on July 28, 2016, 06:17:59 pm
That's because Sega America cut the back story of Sonic and also his love interest . Come the time of the DC Sega America had little market share to force Somic Team to do what they suggest.

Hey that's fine. I'm sure Sonic was meant to be a million and one different things by different teams. All that matters though is the final product that we actually play and in that final product, Robotnik is the only human.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on July 28, 2016, 07:14:04 pm
I'm 90% sure the 2017 footage is in-engine.

(http://i.imgur.com/UJPNNEr.png)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on July 28, 2016, 07:26:24 pm
The reason I think its CG  is because of the classic sonic model. It always looks to me like theres 2 different teams model the characters differently, altho im not sure ofcourse
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on July 29, 2016, 10:47:30 am
It looks a bit too much for it not to be pre-rendered to me.

More opinions: https://youtu.be/QrA-LUUQouE
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on July 29, 2016, 03:56:21 pm
This video shows off the level design really well
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-BCf-3lSMug

There's so much to look forward to with this game. You can see that the original act 1 and 2 from green hill have been connected with an added layer on top. The act then ends inside.. a cave? with a boss battle. Just thinking about the transitions similar to sonic 3 & knuckles into the act 2's just gets me giddy. Also the fact of having act 1 boss battles in classic stages. Or the fact that all the classic stages might get similar or even more drastic twists/remixes to whats been shown of ghz. So much to look forward to
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on July 30, 2016, 01:27:45 pm
Digital Foundry take a look at Sonic Mania: https://youtu.be/bZHBWPov8dk
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Artwark on July 30, 2016, 02:54:46 pm
I wonder if Project 2017 is using Unreal 4 Engine cause from the looks of the lighting, that kind of thing is something I've noticed in Unreal 4.....if it does, can it handle physics well?

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on July 30, 2016, 03:19:58 pm
I wonder if Project 2017 is using Unreal 4 Engine cause from the looks of the lighting, that kind of thing is something I've noticed in Unreal 4.....if it does, can it handle physics well?


If that IS in-engine I believe it is Sonic Team's own engine. Either a modifed 'Hedgehog Engine' or its replacement.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on July 30, 2016, 03:42:59 pm
And if it is unreal, the physics are very flexible to what you need, so it shouldn't be an issue.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Artwark on July 30, 2016, 04:39:22 pm
And if it is unreal, the physics are very flexible to what you need, so it shouldn't be an issue.


now that right there....worries me.


I mean if Havok couldn't do the same physics as the classic games for Generations, how can Unreal top that?

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Phantasos on July 31, 2016, 09:59:22 am
The fact that Sega couldn't even offer 1 artist to handle new sketches for Sonic Mania is kinda lame. They're strictly publishing the thing when it's already pretty much dead set that this will be the best received game of the 2 announced.

That Sonic Team trailer looks like it's going to follow up on Generations which is good but the edgy setting is kinda fucking up already. After Lost World, I can't help by making my self cautiously optimistic at best.

But fuck, man. Mania looks legit in all the right ways. Just hope they focus on new stages and original content than "remixed" levels which is nice but not really that interesting in the long run. Nostalgia pandering works best when they remind us of the good old days with visuals and designs that reminds us of past games, not blast us with old levels with slightly changed bits and pieces.

Not that it's a pretty big deal but Studiolopolis looks so fucking good, I want more of that and less of Fire Shield/"Mini boss" in Green Hill.

Also, the Sega references are all over the place. Streets of Rage, Daytona USA, good shit.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on July 31, 2016, 05:14:19 pm
Do you mean the art in the trailer when you said sketches?

I don't think it is that big a deal. The classic art they already have is great, and there is nearly a year before the game releases with a possibility for new art. They just worked with what they had for the trailer, and in the end the gameplay is what matters.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Artwark on July 31, 2016, 07:19:35 pm
Personally, I would have liked it if they used the sprites from the advance games but I'm fine with this....well  I would have loved them using Sonic 3 sprites but I'm fine with this as well.


its funny how we live in an age where despite people talking big about 3D, we still get games that use Pixel art and they sell as well/better than your typical AAA games out there.

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on July 31, 2016, 08:17:16 pm
Studiopolis as a stage thats highly inspired by sonic cd's stardust speedway already looks miles above that level from a level design standpoint. Im saying this because ive never been a fan of sonic cd's 'messy' level design. Ive only watched the stage a couple of times and it already looks very memorable. This has never been the case for any dimps games, where most of the stages are quickly fogettable imho.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on August 01, 2016, 12:40:50 am
I really liked how they had little creative ideas in Studiopolis that fit the zone. Things like the balloons, Popcorn and zapping around in the dishes all work wonderfully and I hope they continue it throughout the game.

I'm not too bothered about the physics Artwark. What they've shown already look exactly right and they've even fixed some of it's original issues due the mega drives limited technology it seems.

About Sonic 2017...

One complaint I have heard is the return of classic Sonic and in the 3D game which is mainly modern Sonic focused. I'm not too bothered myself, but I can see the issue for some. Especially when they have a whole cast of useful friends of Sonic they could have used. 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on August 03, 2016, 08:14:28 am
Studiopolos music track is really just top notch. Ive heard many people trying to emulate sonic music, and I also absolutly loved the work that had been done for some fan games but this tee lopes guy is doing incredible work. I just cant say it enough man, im way too excited for sonic Mania.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on August 03, 2016, 10:11:18 am
It'll be interesting to see how SEGA/Sonic Team respond if Sonic Mania does better than they expected. Personally, like Mario, I think there's room for both classic Sonic and modern as they both bring something different to the table.

With Sonic 2017, I really hope they work on refining some of the boost gameplay. Make the controls a bit more responsive when moving slowly, then once you pick up the speed (or by boost) have them become more like Generations.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on August 06, 2016, 12:59:53 pm
^Yeah I agree. I expect sonic mania to definitly reach a million purchases, but I honestly think they can reach 2 million if the game gets amazing reception. And with that I mean sonic mania has to be better than the classics as a sonic 4 should be. That would be a great thing to see happening.

Btw something random. I really liked this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Mdys5PfWAw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Mdys5PfWAw)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Artwark on August 06, 2016, 04:27:48 pm
It'll be interesting to see how SEGA/Sonic Team respond if Sonic Mania does better than they expected. Personally, like Mario, I think there's room for both classic Sonic and modern as they both bring something different to the table.

With Sonic 2017, I really hope they work on refining some of the boost gameplay. Make the controls a bit more responsive when moving slowly, then once you pick up the speed (or by boost) have them become more like Generations.


I have no doubts that the game will control perfectly. Its using the Retro engine which is used by those ports of the remastered Sonic games. SEGA bringing this guy is a genius move!


Studiopolos music track is really just top notch. Ive heard many people trying to emulate sonic music, and I also absolutly loved the work that had been done for some fan games but this tee lopes guy is doing incredible work. I just cant say it enough man, im way too excited for sonic Mania.


In terms of the design, its definitely original no doubt there but as a name.....not so sure about that. I mean there are words with the ending polos mentioned several times i think particularly Casinopolis..Metropolis.. even though the spelling is different? idk.
 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Randroid on August 07, 2016, 01:12:06 am
In terms of the design, its definitely original no doubt there but as a name.....not so sure about that. I mean there are words with the ending polos mentioned several times i think particularly Casinopolis..Metropolis.. even though the spelling is different? idk.
 

The name is based on a real studio where they actually recorded audio for past games. Same name and everything.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on August 07, 2016, 08:43:27 am
Until the devs say Studiopolis is based on the recording place, I'm tacking it up to happy coincidence. It's a TV studio zone, studio is an obvious word to use and opolis is a popular suffix for Sonic zones. They could have easily came to the name that way. Plus I'm not sure how versed Taxman and Stealth are in modern sonic recording studio history. They don't work in that realm and their game won't have voices.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Randroid on August 07, 2016, 03:56:02 pm
Until the devs say Studiopolis is based on the recording place, I'm tacking it up to happy coincidence. It's a TV studio zone, studio is an obvious word to use and opolis is a popular suffix for Sonic zones. They could have easily came to the name that way. Plus I'm not sure how versed Taxman and Stealth are in modern sonic recording studio history. They don't work in that realm and their game won't have voices.

If they (Studiopolis) never worked on Sonic. I'd agree with you. I get that visually or thematically they're not the same, but the name of the studio has to be. They've worked on too many Sonic games. Too on the button to be a coincidence if you ask me. I'm pretty sure the devs (or Director/Art Director) must have heard about Studiopolis' involvement with Sonic, liked the name, and boom Studiopolis Zone.

Also, the whole zone is meta and littered with callbacks to non classic Sonic references, so why wouldn't the name of the zone be one either?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Artwark on August 08, 2016, 05:40:12 pm
If they (Studiopolis) never worked on Sonic. I'd agree with you. I get that visually or thematically they're not the same, but the name of the studio has to be. They've worked on too many Sonic games. Too on the button to be a coincidence if you ask me. I'm pretty sure the devs (or Director/Art Director) must have heard about Studiopolis' involvement with Sonic, liked the name, and boom Studiopolis Zone.

Also, the whole zone is meta and littered with callbacks to non classic Sonic references, so why wouldn't the name of the zone be one either?


Good point. Frankly, I haven't heard the zone Metropolis in years....and that's coming from someone who prefers Sonic 3 over 2.

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on August 09, 2016, 06:53:16 am
Having replayed all the old Sonic not so long ago, I think Sonic 3 is probably my favourite too. The reason? Saving!

The first two are still great of course, but the ability to save was/is such a big improvement for games. Before then (not just Sonic) you'd have to go through the entire game again if you died from something stupid (I'm looking at you labyrinth zone!) or had to turn the console off for other reasons.

I honestly don't think I could play a lot of these older games without a save state feature that's usually implemented into re-releases now.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on August 09, 2016, 07:15:24 am
Having replayed all the old Sonic not so long ago, I think Sonic 3 is probably my favourite too. The reason? Saving!

I have to say that I found them all vastly overrated myself - Still great games and amazing tech demos of the Mega Drive hardware, but I always found Revenge of Shinobi and the Mickey Mouse/Disney series of SEGA Playform games to be much better games myself .

That said I loved Sonic CD - Just for the time travel feature (so wished it would be used again) and that amazing Japanese soundtrack . It was just such a shame Sonic CD never used the ASIC chip for scaling and rotation effects in-game on the  bosses and so on
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on August 09, 2016, 08:07:55 am
Im gonna say something and I kinda hate myself for saying this. It may have been my mood, but I felt really strange playing sonic 3 and knuckles recently, not in a good way. It had been a long time since ive played it so. Like maybe 4 years ago since ive last finished it? In my mind the sonic 3 part of sonic 3 & knuckles had never really been the good part so its actually not that surprising, but I dont remember finding it a chore. I think sonic 3 alone is not as good as sonic 1 & 2. Maybe i'll enjoy myself more when I play from mushroom hill zone. Yeah I think flying battery, sandopolis, lava reef, hidden palace, sky sanctuary and death egg are definitly a lot better zones than what sonic 3 offered.

My issue with it is kind of the same with what I have with most modern sonic games, which is lack of interactivity and more of a showcase of how cool it looks when sonic speeds through, kinda like TA here above me mentioned. Even the final zone, launch base zone, which you'd expect to be more serious and challenging lacks any of that and you just kind of speed through it till the final boss.

My hope is that sonic mania adresses this in a way. I mean at the end of the day there's more to sonic than just an engaging videogame. Sonic games and their playfulness with the physics is something that doesnt get old. But it would be a huge improvement from s3&k
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on August 09, 2016, 12:45:42 pm
I think it's easy to say that now, but back then, it was huge. I've already stated I probably wouldn't have stuck with video games if it wasn't for the technological advancements we've had - and I don't mean 3D as such. Broken Sword was the game that really got me interested in gaming and that was a hand drawn 2D adventure game!

I can't say I really expected a new pixel styled Sonic game nor did I really think it was needed as such. I think the majority of gamers just wanted a good Sonic game. Why Mania has took off like it has isn't because of the graphics though I'd argue. Sure, it hits the nostalgia nerve, but I'd say it's because of the people behind it and what we've already seen. Everything about it reeks of classic Sonic, but with new technology behind it. I'm really interested to see what they do with this within the zones. They can really be creative now and do things not possible before.

I posted a video about this in this thread ages ago and I still think it's completely right. The mistake people make with Sonic, is they think it's a platformer like Mario (hence all the comparisons in this past). It really isn't though. Mario worlds has a very ridged design, whereas Sonic is at his best when he's in a flowing environment.

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on August 09, 2016, 04:10:35 pm
There' room in the world for both 2D and 3D Sonic titles... For me really good pixel art and chip tunes are a brilliant asthetic. Once it was the only thing possible now it's like an artistic choice... Like when they make mock 80's films with all the cliches. I find it really appealing.

But I like 3D sonic games like Sonic Colours and Generations too... So yay for me.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on August 10, 2016, 04:48:26 am
There' room in the world for both 2D and 3D Sonic titles... For me really good pixel art and chip tunes are a brilliant asthetic. Once it was the only thing possible now it's like an artistic choice... Like when they make mock 80's films with all the cliches. I find it really appealing.

But I like 3D sonic games like Sonic Colours and Generations too... So yay for me.

I like the 3D games more  myself . I think there's a lot of retro heads that will always say 2D Sonic are better even if the new Sonic  was amazing . 2D and retro are seen as cool , while 3D isn't . I simply loved Sonic Adv and the 3D daytime levels of Sonic Unleashed and all of Colors and 3D parts of Gen .

Its such a rush blazing through the 3D sections of Gen and the game still looks bloody amazing too
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on August 10, 2016, 12:30:55 pm
I'm probably more likely to replay a 3D game than a classic one too. For Adventure, I'd most likely just select a stage, but I'd happily play Colours or Generations over and over.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Randroid on August 10, 2016, 07:58:26 pm
I reply both, but only the extremes of each. If it's 2D I find myself replaying Sonic 1-3 more than any other 2D ones (despite many attempts to reply Rush, Rush Adv, etc).

If it's 3D, only the ultra moderns Colors, Gens, and LW. I can't replay any of the Adventure ones anymore.

I know Sonic Mania has hit us pretty hard and we're all replaying Sonic games right now. I forgot how awesome it was to zip around in Gen like TA mentioned. I wouldn't mind a new Sonic R mode that worked that way.


Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Artwark on August 24, 2016, 08:19:06 am
Oh man......check this vid out.....


http://www.ign.com/videos/2016/07/31/sega-doubles-down-on-sonic-game-scoop


Hey even I can agree that the Sonic Franchise has a few downsides here and there.....but saying that there hasn't been a great Sonic game since the originals is overdoing it.


They give great scores for the recent Sonic games and yet they troll around the fans who trusted their reviews into getting the games?!?!


Wow IGN.....what's next? First you didn't play Lost World properly and give it low scores while purposefully playing badly at it. Then you gave Federation Force a bad score because you didn't even make an attempt to do a proper constructive review on it and now all of a sudden...not to mention that you gave it to someone who didn't play the game right. And now, you troll on those who bought games based on the reviews you've given......


I don't mind them hating Sonic, but if that was the case, why did they even bother to review the games then and then troll at those games that they just gave great scores on? I really don't know what's the point with game journalists these days. They aren't even scared of their reputation being ruined because of this kind of crap they are doing.


They didn't even get the information right for the two Sonic games coming out.

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on August 24, 2016, 10:13:59 am
No one care about IGN anymore.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Artwark on August 24, 2016, 11:06:22 am
No one care about IGN anymore.


Its not a matter of care. Its a matter of how much of foolishness there is in professionalism these days. I know that these people will always exist for the wrong reasons to rant/troll others just for the sake of hate....but doing that in a professional field such as journalism? That's just....off.


I don't know who's better between the two. IGN or Gamespot.


I swear that if one of them give a minus point for Sonic Mania because of it being a fan-game rather than a professional game......I think video game journalism is a complete joke.

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on August 24, 2016, 11:53:09 am
but doing that in a professional field such as journalism?
It happens in fucking CNN, let alone videogames.


Journalism as a whole is a worldwide joke.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on August 24, 2016, 12:59:54 pm
Yup. Can't say I bother with "journalists" in any field now.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Artwark on August 24, 2016, 04:48:05 pm
umm.....ok. Guess we shouldn't be bothered then......k.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: FlareHabanero on August 24, 2016, 04:54:02 pm
I see Sonic fans are falling for IGN's clickbait again.


Like I'm pretty sure giving them views and by extension money is counterproductive to defending Sonic, because that's only going to encourage them to make more content like this. Remember, with the "no bad publicity" philosophy all that matters in the end is that they get more traffic.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on August 24, 2016, 08:29:24 pm
Ah... IGN...
Clickbait as ever and sometimes it worked, spreading toxic around readers.
These comments are taken from actual IGN's section comments btw, you won't see these kind of comments on another site (may be) since other site are mostly positive and excited about Sonic Mania and Project Sonic 2017 :

The announcement of Sonic Mania :


(http://fs5.directupload.net/images/160825/jj4jy3l8.png)

The announcement of Project Sonic 2017 :

(http://fs5.directupload.net/images/160825/ilqph5fz.png)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on August 25, 2016, 12:55:50 am
umm.....ok. Guess we shouldn't be bothered then......k.

It's completely up to you. I personally find too many of them that do the following things:

1) Contradict themselves from one review to another.
2) Reviewing based on the current positive or negative consensus from those who haven't even played said game.
3) Using their position for clickbait nonsense with no real credible criticism
4)  Are reviewing a series or genre they clearly don't like
5) Reviewing in favour of a project due to cash incentives
6) they're too stupid


This is why we've seen the rise of amateur bloggers in the form of YouTube and the occasional written blog. Sure, some are just as bad, but you also get those that actually are good and offer fair and balanced arguments.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on August 25, 2016, 01:34:00 am
Here's examples of all the above instances:

1) Jim Sterling gave Sonic Colours a good score, later, he went on to bash it. Sonic's twitter account called him out on it. This applies to those who also criticise one game for doing something, yet reward another for doing the exact same thing...weird.

2) We see this a lot in sequels to games and in the adventure games scene. When asked about a recent adventure game that was released, Greg Miller replied "who cares about adventure games.". Unfortunately for him, quite a lot of people as that's how we've seen the rise of Daedalic software, Telltale, Life is Strange, wadjet eye games, Revolution software, remasters from Double Fine, Dreamfall chapters among many random indie titles.

3) this one speaks for itself really. The big sites like IGN are great at it.

4) If Barry asked me to review a RTS, I'd tell him I couldn't. Why? Because it's a genre I have no interest in or real knowledge about. Yet, over at Rock, Paper, Shotgun, they consistently have a reviewer (walker I think) who reviews adventure games when he doesn't like them. The slight hint of a puzzle that's very logical, but slightly difficult sends him into "awful puzzles" sentence. Some of his reviews even feature outright nonsense.

5) Polygon have consistently been caught on live streams stating they don't like A, B or C and only admitted to receiving cash from MS once caught.

6) The announcement of Shenmue 3 was a brilliant example of this. Sony said on stage they were helping with the marketing...yet, this was a major issue with journalists who seemed to have forgotten this and started making crappy stories up. The funniest of which was Kotaku who was picking fault with the physical release cover art...you, know. The art that was clearly just a mock up and clearly not real.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on August 25, 2016, 03:32:58 am
Tad has put it better than I ever could.

For videogames I choose to go the old-school approach. Look at some screenshots, see a trailer or two and read some general info of the game. If it sparks my interest, I get it.

Fuck reviews. I avoid them completely. Mainly because they come from a person who is consistently looking for flaws while playing, instead of actually enjoying what the game is.

One time there was a Godzilla fighter for Gamecube and reviews complained that the fighting mechanics weren't deep, gameplay was shallow, etc. Completely missing that the main point of the game is to reenact the battles from the Godzilla games. The devs clearly didn't set out to create a competitive fighting game, only something for fans to feel happy about, which is fine but will get you a 6/10 ez
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: FlareHabanero on August 25, 2016, 05:15:50 am
I can perfectly understand why Sonic 2017 would be uneasy with people. First warning is of course it being made by Sonic Team, which as people are aware made really questionable products in the past. It's a natural feeling, like you wouldn't trust someone that smacks you behind the with a frying pan, so why trust a development team handle something they struggle with on even the most basic level. The second red flag is them trying to be dark again, which is commonly associated with really notorious games like Shadow the Hedgehog and Sonic '06.


Sonic Mania meanwhile gets less hate because the people behind it genuinely care about the franchise and have personally proved they can make good level design and engines with either rom hacks or custom made engines. However, because of past games, again some people simply can't trust their word based on past principles. Not helping that this isn't the first time an attempt was made to make a game that was a throwback to past Sonic games, and Sonic 4 ended up being half-baked.


The only way to get rid of this stigma is to flat out prove that Sonic can be salvaged. Not even a "fluke" like in the same way Sonic Generations was, a consistent stream of quality products.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on August 25, 2016, 10:11:39 am
The team behind Sonic 2017 is the "main" team responsible for unleashed (widely seen as a step in the right direction), Colours (above average scores) and Generations which is also seen as good. I do agree they need to keep the quality up, but the stigma isn't going to go in till they get a string of solid titles out. I think it's fair to say, from this team, we're starting to. Although not bad, SLW didn't help and the less said about Boom the better.


@Crackdude

I dislike how the scoring system now works too. It's suppose to be:

1 - awful. Nothing good, stay away.
5 - average. You'll get some enjoyment in this, but their are issues.
10 - perfect. A masterpiece and one you shouldn't miss.

Here's how it actually is:

6 - awful
8 - average
9 - perfect.

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on August 25, 2016, 11:47:01 am
First off, I think the "oh noes its by Sonic Team" thing is bullshit. Sonic Team gave us Unleashed, Generations (which in what way is a "fluke"?), Sonic Colors, and Lost World (which is a good game). The bad Sonic stuff from 2008 onwards mainly came from bad business deals from upper management (Nintendo exclusives, Boom) and external developers like Dimps and BigRedButton. At the anniversary party when they showed the Sonic Team trailer and name dropped Generations and Colors, I thought it was worthy of a well earned cheer. Whatever negative stigma people claim the Sonic Team name carries is their own personal bias by this point.

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on August 25, 2016, 12:01:46 pm
Americans are full of biased shit against Sega.

None of that bullshit in Japan, and even in Europe Sega is pretty well respected although it's granted it doesn't have the same quality as in the 90s.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: FlareHabanero on August 25, 2016, 05:11:26 pm
First off, I think the "oh noes its by Sonic Team" thing is bullshit. Sonic Team gave us Unleashed, Generations (which in what way is a "fluke"?), Sonic Colors, and Lost World (which is a good game). The bad Sonic stuff from 2008 onwards mainly came from bad business deals from upper management (Nintendo exclusives, Boom) and external developers like Dimps and BigRedButton. At the anniversary party when they showed the Sonic Team trailer and name dropped Generations and Colors, I thought it was worthy of a well earned cheer. Whatever negative stigma people claim the Sonic Team name carries is their own personal bias by this point.


Basically Sonic Generations was a hope spot wedged between many games that have received mixed to negative reception. In a sense, it was the exception to the rule and as a result for SEGA and Sonic fans they finally had something universally liked, and it gave hope that the series can finally get out of a rut that's arguably been plaguing the series since the mid 90's or 2005-ish. Which sadly got contracted by the later Sonic Lost World and especially Sonic Boom. So while Sonic Generations gave fans the hope they needed, it just ended up being a fluke in the long run.


Also ironic that you mention Nintendo exclusives and Dimps harming the Sonic brand. In fact, several of the better received Sonic games were exclusive to Nintendo consoles and developed by Dimps like Sonic Rush. Yes, this also includes Sonic Colors. The thing with Sonic Lost World and Sonic Boom though is that they were doomed right from the start. Sonic Lost World went far too deep into experimenting territory right after Sonic Generations proved they had a working formula, and the game as a whole ends up being confused as to what it wants to be. Sonic Boom meanwhile was always destined to be a mediocre game. Even if you put the game on technically stronger platforms to fix the CryEngine problem, it still wouldn't fix the fact that the game has problems like very monotonous combat and a very bare plot that fails to be a prequel to a new continuity. Some would argue it could of been fixed, but since the general Sonic Boom franchise has been conceptualized since at least 2007 or 2010 (that's another kettle of fish to talk about) and the Wii U/3DS thing was basically last minute, I doubt it.


As for Unleashed, it in a similar vein to Sonic Lost World was a victim to experimenting. After Sonic 06' horribly tainted the reputation of the brand, they needed a drastically different direction so to help fix the brand. Though unlike Sonic Lost World, it had something working for in the form of the Daytime stages, and it's often cited as one of the game's strongest aspects. Sadly the Daytime stages despite being well received, were overshadowed by the more prominent (especially in the Wii/PS2 version) Night stages. I know it's a cliche to complain about the Werehog, but the general mode feels like it's trying to be something like Devil May Cry or God of War, but it misses it's mark. For example, stages having a habit of being too long and tedious, redundant moves, and hit detection being shoddy in certain spots. The concept could of been an enjoyable novelty if given the right execution, since those type of games are proven to have worked. That's a problem, but even the Daytime stages have some rough areas that get fixed in later games like Generations. So Sonic Unleashed is in general a step in the right direction, but because of a big misstep the game felt like it missed potential to be something better. I mean it was one of the games that was pulled from circulation for a reason.


As for the Sonic Team thing? Keep in mind with that particular development group, it's pretty much in-name-only. Many of the key people that made the Sonic games on the Genesis and the cult classics on the Saturn like NiGHTS left. Naturally when people that help make the entire system work in the first place leave, you're left with people trying desperately to fill in the void, and because of the constant restructurings it's one of the reasons why many of their games have a habit of being inconsistent. Sonic Team by technically is involved with other games, Puyo Puyo being an example, but because the "Sonic Team" logo is heavily associated with Sonic to the point only Sonic games actually use the logo these days, naturally people associate Sonic Team with Sonic. This as a side effect means that Sonic Team gets the blame for anything that goes wrong with a Sonic game. Which is especially jarring because the other games the division is involved with tend to be competent, yet kept quiet about it. To be honest, I can see why people would be uneasy whenever the Sonic Team logo shows up, since they're inadvertently associating themselves with flawed games.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Randroid on September 08, 2016, 03:39:13 pm
Sega just started a Twitter Poll for a Sonic Mania Collector's Edition physical release.

https://twitter.com/sonic_hedgehog/status/773936650434990080

You all know what to do.

I would buy one for each system I have that they made one for, not even a question.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on September 13, 2016, 11:14:21 am
Collectors edition is going ahead! Whoo hoo!
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on September 13, 2016, 11:50:21 am
Not in Europe. What the hell
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Trippled on September 13, 2016, 12:33:30 pm

As for the Sonic Team thing? Keep in mind with that particular development group, it's pretty much in-name-only. Many of the key people that made the Sonic games on the Genesis and the cult classics on the Saturn like NiGHTS left. Naturally when people that help make the entire system work in the first place leave, you're left with people trying desperately to fill in the void, and because of the constant restructurings it's one of the reasons why many of their games have a habit of being inconsistent. Sonic Team by technically is involved with other games, Puyo Puyo being an example, but because the "Sonic Team" logo is heavily associated with Sonic to the point only Sonic games actually use the logo these days, naturally people associate Sonic Team with Sonic. This as a side effect means that Sonic Team gets the blame for anything that goes wrong with a Sonic game. Which is especially jarring because the other games the division is involved with tend to be competent, yet kept quiet about it. To be honest, I can see why people would be uneasy whenever the Sonic Team logo shows up, since they're inadvertently associating themselves with flawed games.

"Desperatly filling the void" is a disservice to all the developer houses where senior developers have left. I guess because Naughty Dog or Retro Studios have different developers now, they are also just "in name only".
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Randroid on September 13, 2016, 02:22:21 pm
Looks fantastic, but a bit disappointing. I was hoping for the game on disk, or at least a soundtrack CD. Also, not sure what a Cartridge Cast with Gold Ring is supposed to mean.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on September 13, 2016, 03:48:27 pm
Regarding the lack of physical copy: I'm a huge proponent of disc media and physical copies of games. However, I understand that it is not possible for every game to receive a disc release and to be honest, I was not expecting it for Sonic Mania given SEGA America is largely behind it. So this Collector's Edition was a surprise to me, as it is a lot more than what I was expecting for North America. I got the PC version, which had it been a disc it would have been used once anyway and likely had a product key or some sort of DRM. A code on a metal card isn't a physical disc, but it is something physical at least. Better than a steam code or a piece of paper (I have Sonic 4 Episode 2 physically via a Starbucks download card, lol).

Regarding Europe: It sucks. Blame SEGA Europe. SEGA of America is in no way stopping Europeans from getting this. It's like the Sonic 20th release in reverse. I was pissed at SEGA of America, now Europeans should be pissed at SEGA Europe.

I think the Cartridge Cast is a plastic cast of a Genesis/MD cart and it slides open to reveal a ring. Given the 20th box came with a ring, I'd prefer something different OR that they place the download code card inside the cartridge and give the ring its own package.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on September 14, 2016, 12:53:35 am
I don't know what's going on with SoE. They used to be brilliant with this sort of thing, but since the change to mostly digital, they've become very uninterested.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on September 20, 2016, 03:12:24 pm
Haha well done SEGA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtqgkPCEIP8
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on September 20, 2016, 03:57:59 pm
Best gaming ad ever!
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on September 20, 2016, 05:18:45 pm
Gotta be honest I didnt even notice the new classic sonic artwork and pose untill the segabits facebook mentioned it. What a return!
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on September 21, 2016, 08:56:54 am
Yeah! The new artwork is a redrawn piece of stock art from the 90s that is now in the airbrushed style. SEGA (or more specifically the Sonic social media team) employs a free freelance fan artists who are now making official art. I believe we've seen a few new classic Sonic pieces on social media and merch, and I really hope to see some new Tails and Knuckles airbrush-style pieces.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on September 21, 2016, 08:12:11 pm
Oh it is? Well still great to see that great brushed artstyle back. Seems like everything is falling into place as it should be. Even the legendary guy behind sonic cd's artwork is on board now. I mean who doesn't love the sonic CD artstyle direction? Would be something if they even made cutscenes similar to sonic cd's for mania.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on October 26, 2016, 11:59:53 am
Some new gameplay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=al0GFfRfq9w&feature=youtu.be
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on October 26, 2016, 02:43:11 pm
Ohh, pretty. Had to turn the volume down mind. Nothing against the SEGA rep, but I find the "kind of funny games" crew rather annoying.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on October 26, 2016, 03:20:46 pm
I love that giant gun gimmick, and the hand/gun looks like it came from an Eggrobo:

(http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/sonicwiki/images/f/f8/Egg_Robo.png/revision/latest?cb=20101219134249&path-prefix=de)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on October 26, 2016, 03:42:16 pm
Is this stage based off the infamous Dust Hill?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on October 27, 2016, 09:35:42 am
Man this looks and sounds great!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8zmICz4q_8
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on October 27, 2016, 01:11:28 pm
http://segabits.com/blog/2016/10/27/archie-comics-announces-sonic-mega-drive-overdrive/

(http://segabits.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Sonic_Mega_Drive-Overdrive.jpg)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Centrale on October 27, 2016, 03:18:27 pm
The animation and detail in Sonic Mania looks incredible. I like the idea the producer mentioned, kind of imagining what a Saturn-era Sonic game would be like.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Kuronoa on October 27, 2016, 06:08:57 pm
I love that Mania is putting Sonic in what could be a permanent positive light because it looks like an amazing 2D Sonic game.
Instead of whining that Sonic should be dead and sonic cycle this and that, I just see lapsed/classic fanboys just saying how much Sonic finally have a good game in 20 years (cringe!) and other ways to hate the modern games. I should be happy, it's progress. I could be finally enjoying talking about this series online again.

A little speculation, but that painting of a character you see with moving eyes looks unrecognizable. Is this foreshadowing of the final boss robot or something?
I also love they reused the Wanted posters of Fang/Bark/Bean.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on October 28, 2016, 04:33:36 am
Hell, fuck the modern games if Sega can make a run of amazing 2D experiences.

Also, more and more I believe that when people think of Sonic they think Classic Sonic, and from this point of view Modern Sonic is just a gimmick
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on October 28, 2016, 06:54:20 am
http://segabits.com/blog/2016/10/27/archie-comics-announces-sonic-mega-drive-overdrive/ (http://segabits.com/blog/2016/10/27/archie-comics-announces-sonic-mega-drive-overdrive/)

-archie cover art-
The art for these comics have been way too good and accurate to the classic designs.

I can't say it enough but i'm so glad that modern and classic sonic can finally coexist.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Kuronoa on October 28, 2016, 09:02:17 am
Hell, fuck the modern games if Sega can make a run of amazing 2D experiences.

Also, more and more I believe that when people think of Sonic they think Classic Sonic, and from this point of view Modern Sonic is just a gimmick

Disagree.  I enjoyed plenty of Modern Sonic. I grew  up with Classic Sonic and don't even care if Classic Sonic is the new face of the series again. I just hate to see the good games that did show up forgotten and the tension of "you are not supposed to like Modern Sonic" should disappear as failures like 06 long lived its infamy and can be buried now that there has been a string of good titles since then, modern or classic.

EDIT: That being said, 2D Sonic was in need of a makeover. Sonic 4 wasn't so hot and Dimps went from making original titles to just making companion portable versions of the games. It was getting messy.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on October 28, 2016, 09:32:14 am
@Kuronoa

There's always going to be childish behaviour and hostility. You can't really do anything about 'human nature' sadly lol. But man if I wasn't pissed off myself during the time when classic sonic was written off completely, and sonic 4 was just the nail in the coffin for me personally. I haven't seen what you've been seeing but maybe that's because I don't visit the sonicfan boards. I  guess its better to avoid those places perhaps. All i've seen is people aknowledging the game looking great and that's it.

Having said that it could always end up being dissapointing no matter how it's been looking so far so despite my excitement i'm still a bit cautious.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Kuronoa on October 28, 2016, 10:20:28 am
Nah I said too exaggerated. It isn't the hostility just tired of how Sonic is normally seen in discussions in general gaming boards, and how Sonic has to be clickbait to journalists and we supposed to lower our expectations. I never lowered expectations for Sonic.

Mania attracted attention of those who don't play modern Sonic and... well... it shows. Its a great and little awkward reunion.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on October 28, 2016, 10:51:01 am
Classic and Modern Sonic can coexist, and fans have been asking for such a setup for years. Unfortunately it took nearly 15 years to finally get SEGA to go for it. Sonic 4 was, I felt, SEGA's lame attempt at such a split but company politics and nonsense marketing mindsets meant that we had Modern Sonic going both a 2D (Sonic 4) and 3D (Colors) route. Similarly to Mario who is, essentially, Modern Mario but exists in the New Super Mario Bros. 2D games and the 3D games ( Galaxy, 3D Land, 3D World).

I really feel that Classic Sonic was long stuck behind some bullshit rule that SEGA and Sonic Team had for the brand, in that Classic Sonic wasn't allowed to appear in the Archie Comics or in his own games. They would only allow stuff like classic designs being obscured (check out the Archie Sonic comics that show Eggman in the past, obscured by shadow, and the Genesis arc in which we kinda got the classic designs (Eggman anyway) but Sonic still had the green eyes. And then, of course, there was Sonic 4. I feel that Iizuka and/or some higher ups did not want classic and modern out there in fear of ruining the brand somehow. Maybe they thought it could confuse the general public or too much classic could take away from modern?

Anyway, I feel that since Generations things have been changing. Classic Sonic was a major reason people loved Generations, and since then we saw the demise of Sonic 4, the rise of the Taxman ports and Sonic Mania as well as Archie finally being allowed to release Classic Sonic comics and show the classic designs. Merch has also returned featuring Classic Sonic, and it is not because it is tying into a game featuring him like the 20th anniversary Jazwares stuff was doing.

I'm not sure Sonic Boom helped, but perhaps the fact that SEGA of America deemed it okay to have a third Sonic out there meant that Classic Sonic wasn't that big an issue in the minds of Sonic Team and SEGA higher ups in diluting the brand.

Personally, I have bought more new Sonic merch in 2015/2016 than I have in a long time due to all the Classic Sonic stuff available.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on October 28, 2016, 10:57:27 am
I like the divide they have with Classic Sonic and Modern Sonic. It allows for both fans to get what they want and for the teams making them to bounce ideas from one version to the next in a creative way.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on February 26, 2017, 10:22:12 pm
New banner for Sonic Mania on SEGA JP website.
Looks cool.

(http://sega.jp/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/bnr_soft_sonicm.jpg)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on March 10, 2017, 12:17:56 pm
New gameplay: https://youtu.be/aiCWFJ-VOO8
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on March 16, 2017, 08:04:48 pm
Sonic Mania continues to look perfect.

Sonic Forces. Not sure about the name yet but I hated the name Sonic Colours with firey passion and it's grown on me. 20 seconds of gameplay confirmed that it'll be Colours/Generations gameplay and so I am in! I have long said that is the style they should stick with.... My biggest concern is that 3rd gameplay style... For me, in a perfect world it'll be the return of the Chao Garden... Fully expecting it to be some junk that'll be a blight on the game though... Werehog shite. So to recap: Optimistic and concerned....
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Kuronoa on March 16, 2017, 08:36:53 pm
Hopefully the third gameplay is chao garden because that is overdue and a popular feature.
Otherwise I can only trust my own instincts with Sonic, so far I like that it is like Colors/Generations and I"m usually open minded with other gameplay styles in the series and Sonic Team is in play it safe mode to begin with.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on March 16, 2017, 08:38:43 pm
Sonic Forces sounds kinda cool to me.  But the gameplay may end up being a mix of Modern Sonic and Classic Sonic like in Generations, hence the boosting, wisps, ect. 

The tone looks dark kinda, and the music is ok.  But too soon to say really.  No targeting this time around, just good ol' homing attack.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on March 16, 2017, 08:39:21 pm
Hopefully the third gameplay is chao garden because that is overdue and a popular feature.
Otherwise I can only trust my own instincts with Sonic, so far I like that it is like Colors/Generations and I"m usually open minded with other gameplay styles in the series and Sonic Team is in play it safe mode to begin with.

I'll cry tears of joy if they include chao garden.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on March 16, 2017, 08:40:35 pm
Sonic Mania continues to look perfect.

I agree.  Sonic Mania is a game I definetely want to play. 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on March 16, 2017, 08:41:46 pm
I like the divide they have with Classic Sonic and Modern Sonic. It allows for both fans to get what they want and for the teams making them to bounce ideas from one version to the next in a creative way.

But what if the Classic outshines the Modern?  Could we be seeing a rebirth of the good old days?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on March 17, 2017, 01:04:14 am
Thoughts:

Sonic Mania looks good
Sonic Forces seems good, but I'm a little concerned. The name's a bit weak and if I'm hearing this right, the director is the same guy who did Sonic 06 and on twitter, it was said there's three styles of gameplay. We know there's classic and modern, but wnat's the third one?

But what if the Classic outshines the Modern?  Could we be seeing a rebirth of the good old days?

I like both, but I'd be against a move to just classic Sonic. I doubt Sonic will ever get popular like the old days due to the rampant nostalgia for Nintendo the current games media have.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on March 17, 2017, 02:43:03 am
A remixed flying battery zone? I'm very down with that.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on March 17, 2017, 03:05:38 am
Thoughts:

Sonic Mania looks good
Sonic Forces seems good, but I'm a little concerned. The name's a bit weak and if I'm hearing this right, the director is the same guy who did Sonic 06 and on twitter, it was said there's three styles of gameplay. We know there's classic and modern, but wnat's the third one?

I like both, but I'd be against a move to just classic Sonic. I doubt Sonic will ever get popular like the old days due to the rampant nostalgia for Nintendo the current games media have.

Possible Adventure Sonic, Boom Sonic (doubt it), or dare I say another character entirely that nobody will predict?  Didn't Sega say they wanted a crossover with Mario?  haha.  Wouldn't fly on other consoles though because Nintendo would hold too strongly to their IP.  Nevermind scratch that.   Maybe another Sega character? 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on March 17, 2017, 03:06:33 am
A remixed flying battery zone? I'm very down with that.

You should hear it mixed with MC Hammer's Can't Touch This
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on March 17, 2017, 04:34:10 am
Can't wait as I love the 3D sections of Colors, Gen and even Unleashed and this is just buliding on that that
Looks really good and full of action and some lovely tech with lovely reflections and action all across the screen  . Always said Sonic Team have the best next gen pipe lines @SEGA Japan (not that saying a lot).
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on March 17, 2017, 04:41:46 am
Can't wait as I love the 3D sections of Colors, Gen and even Unleashed and this is just buliding on that that
Looks really good and full of action and some lovely tech with lovely reflections and action all across the screen  . Always said Sonic Team have the best next gen pipe lines @SEGA Japan (not that saying a lot).

If it's coming out holiday season, hopefully it will be completed.  Unless that was the reason they announced it so far in advance, so they had time until now to develop it.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on March 17, 2017, 04:43:19 am
Can't wait as I love the 3D sections of Colors, Gen and even Unleashed and this is just buliding on that that
Looks really good and full of action and some lovely tech with lovely reflections and action all across the screen  . Always said Sonic Team have the best next gen pipe lines @SEGA Japan (not that saying a lot).

I see some people on Neogaf complaining because it's the 'boost gameplay' but frankly there is no better style for 3D Sonic. They've experimented with a few differnen things now (Adventure style, Modern Style, Lost World, Sonic Boom.) And the Modern, boost style gameplay has been by far the most fun. Sonic Generations and Sonic Colours were, imo the highlight of 3D Sonic.

Admittedly it's not like the classics, but if we still GET the classics in the form of more Mania games that's totally fine... Best of both worlds. There are multiple styles of Mario game and nobody gets their nuts in a twist.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on March 17, 2017, 04:47:37 am
Mario games are meh these days.  I prefer to go fast in style.   8)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on March 17, 2017, 04:48:39 am
I see some people on Neogaf complaining because it's the 'boost gameplay' but frankly there is no better style for 3D Sonic. They've experimented with a few differnen things now (Adventure style, Modern Style, Lost World, Sonic Boom.) And the Modern, boost style gameplay has been by far the most fun. Sonic Generations and Sonic Colours were, imo the highlight of 3D Sonic.

Admittedly it's not like the classics, but if we still GET the classics in the form of more Mania games that's totally fine... Best of both worlds. There are multiple styles of Mario game and nobody gets their nuts in a twist.

mania is all I ever asked for in a 2D video game platformer in general so I'm fine with whatever else Sonic does.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Trippled on March 17, 2017, 05:06:23 am
Gah they still showed too little to me. We should know all 3 gameplay styles and have a full level playtrough by now imo,
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on March 17, 2017, 05:13:20 am
I see some people on Neogaf complaining because it's the 'boost gameplay' but frankly there is no better style for 3D Sonic. They've experimented with a few differnen things now (Adventure style, Modern Style, Lost World, Sonic Boom.) And the Modern, boost style gameplay has been by far the most fun. Sonic Generations and Sonic Colours were, imo the highlight of 3D Sonic.

Admittedly it's not like the classics, but if we still GET the classics in the form of more Mania games that's totally fine... Best of both worlds. There are multiple styles of Mario game and nobody gets their nuts in a twist.

It's Neo Gaf and that place is  SONY R US !.

The game looks fab and no its not the classics !, that was Sonic Mania is all about (even if for me the classics are vastly overrated ). This is all about having a current gen 3D platform game and it looks fab and what I want: ie more Sonic 3D boost sections and building on what Sonic Unleashed Daytime, Sonic Colors and Gen 3D sections did so well .

 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on March 17, 2017, 05:26:44 am
It's Neo Gaf and that place is  SONY R US !.

The game looks fab and no its not the classics !, that was Sonic Mania is all about (even if for me the classics are vastly overrated ). This is all about having a current gen 3D platform game and it looks fab and what I want: ie more Sonic 3D boost sections and building on what Sonic Unleashed Daytime, Sonic Colors and Gen 3D sections did so well .

 

It's definetely looking more and more like Generations.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Trippled on March 17, 2017, 06:09:40 am
Shun Nakamura being the producer on this is because Iizuka returned to the US.

Why can't Iizuka decide if he stays in Japan or the US?

1993-1996: in the US making Sonic 3
1996-1999: in Japan making Sonic Adv. and NiGHTS
1999-2008: in US making Sonic and Nights 2
2008-2015: in Japan being sub-manager of sonic team and producing games since Sonic 4
2015-now: in the US again

Seems like he is kinda flexible
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on March 17, 2017, 06:46:48 am
Sonic Mania continues to look perfect.

Yes. And im glad that there is something for everyone for a change. Christian whitehead is a godsent.

Gah they still showed too little to me. We should know all 3 gameplay styles and have a full level playtrough by now imo,
3 gameplay styles? Do we knoe what the 3rd one is?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on March 17, 2017, 07:11:46 am
Shun Nakamura being the producer on this is because Iizuka returned to the US.

Nakamura-san is one of the best talents at SEGA Japan (yes I know he was director of Sonic 06) . I'm can't wait for the title
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Trippled on March 17, 2017, 07:32:28 am
Nakamura-san is one of the best talents at SEGA Japan (yes I know he was director of Sonic 06) . I'm can't wait for the title

Sonic Forces seems kinda like Sonic 06 could have been. Essentially the ambition of Sonic 06 was split into Secret Rings, Sonic 06 actual game and then Sonic Unleashed. Not to mention all DIMPS games Sonic Team had to supervise etc.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on March 17, 2017, 09:02:32 am
Shun Nakamura being the producer on this is because Iizuka returned to the US.

Why can't Iizuka decide if he stays in Japan or the US?

1993-1996: in the US making Sonic 3
1996-1999: in Japan making Sonic Adv. and NiGHTS
1999-2008: in US making Sonic and Nights 2
2008-2015: in Japan being sub-manager of sonic team and producing games since Sonic 4
2015-now: in the US again

Seems like he is kinda flexible

He should stick to NIGHTS imo.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Kuronoa on March 17, 2017, 09:28:12 am
Nakamura has a fine track record outside 06. He was the director of Sonic 06 but he was also responsible for directing Samba de Amigo, Billy Hatcher and Rhythm Thief.

About the third style, going by the pattern of Classic and Modern, it will likely be Adventure Sonic or Boom Sonic. Only reasoning I am skeptical about Boom Sonic otherwise is that the continuty is not quite like the dynamic Classic and Modern Sonic has. Also I'm waiting for the panic button if Boom shows up. But under a different dev team probably be a surprising good gameplay style.

A chao garden would wrap up the game's content well. Having Tails or Knuckles playable be nice.

Another possibility is Eggman playable. "Forces" reminds me of factions and would be interesting to play as Eggman again.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on March 17, 2017, 10:22:23 am
Nakamura has a fine track record outside 06. He was the director of Sonic 06 but he was also responsible for directing Samba de Amigo, Billy Hatcher and Rhythm Thief.

About the third style, going by the pattern of Classic and Modern, it will likely be Adventure Sonic or Boom Sonic. Only reasoning I am skeptical about Boom Sonic otherwise is that the continuty is not quite like the dynamic Classic and Modern Sonic has. Also I'm waiting for the panic button if Boom shows up. But under a different dev team probably be a surprising good gameplay style.

A chao garden would wrap up the game's content well. Having Tails or Knuckles playable be nice.

Another possibility is Eggman playable. "Forces" reminds me of factions and would be interesting to play as Eggman again.

What if they added SatAM Sonic and Robotnik to the mix?   8)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on March 17, 2017, 10:54:38 am
Nakamura has a fine track record outside 06. He was the director of Sonic 06 but he was also responsible for directing Samba de Amigo, Billy Hatcher and Rhythm Thief.

He's one of the true talents inside SEGA Japan . Sonic 06 was a mess, but that was thanks to the Shinobi PS2 producer.  This game is going to be ace
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on March 17, 2017, 11:01:28 am
What if they added SatAM Sonic and Robotnik to the mix?   8)

Can you please not make multiple posts in a row? If you have additional thoughts, please edit your most recent posts. Thanks! :)

---

I'm really excited by what we saw. Yeah, it's darker but it has more of a lighthearted look to it than '06, I think helped by the fact that it is still colorful and maintaining the modern Sonic design aesthetics, not attempting such a realistic look. Like, the giant robots are scary, but also kind of funny looking.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on March 17, 2017, 11:01:42 am
Some direct feed of modern gameplay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Zm0FvEn5CU&feature=share (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Zm0FvEn5CU&feature=share)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on March 17, 2017, 11:35:26 am
A high res video is floating about and I took several screen caps and added them to our article: http://segabits.com/blog/2017/03/17/sonic-forces-modern-sonic-gameplay-video-and-screens-released-gameplay-details-revealed/ (http://segabits.com/blog/2017/03/17/sonic-forces-modern-sonic-gameplay-video-and-screens-released-gameplay-details-revealed/)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on March 17, 2017, 11:37:03 am
Can you please not make multiple posts in a row? If you have additional thoughts, please edit your most recent posts. Thanks! :)

---

I'm really excited by what we saw. Yeah, it's darker but it has more of a lighthearted look to it than '06, I think helped by the fact that it is still colorful and maintaining the modern Sonic design aesthetics, not attempting such a realistic look. Like, the giant robots are scary, but also kind of funny looking.

It looks like it's darker though, like the bad guys are upping their A-game.  That's what gives me that SatAM vibe, like Robotnik has already won and everyone has to team up to stop him.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on March 17, 2017, 12:20:55 pm
Good times imho. No one should be upset about one of the other. Can just love one and trying/enjoying the other too. I'm not too impressed with sonic forced from the little footage, but i'll sure be enjoying it when it comes out.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on March 17, 2017, 12:44:03 pm
A high res video is floating about and I took several screen caps and added them to our article: http://segabits.com/blog/2017/03/17/sonic-forces-modern-sonic-gameplay-video-and-screens-released-gameplay-details-revealed/ (http://segabits.com/blog/2017/03/17/sonic-forces-modern-sonic-gameplay-video-and-screens-released-gameplay-details-revealed/)

Wow, this looks incredible. I don't actually think this looks darker as such now. The level just seems to be at sunset so you see an incredible mix of reds and yellows with other colours.

Nakaruma will be fine then if he's really only had one miss. The third gameplay style is interesting, I just hope it doesn't overshadow or detract from the other styles. It might be playing as Tails or Robotnik or maybe even just something added on like the chaos gardens etc.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on March 17, 2017, 12:48:01 pm
Wow, this looks incredible. I don't actually think this looks darker as such now. The level just seems to be at sunset so you see an incredible mix of reds and yellows with other colours.

Nakaruma will be fine then if he's really only had one miss. The third gameplay style is interesting, I just hope it doesn't overshadow or detract from the other styles. It might be playing as Tails or Robotnik or maybe even just something added on like the chaos gardens etc.

Think we'll ever see another Teen rated Sonic game?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on March 17, 2017, 12:58:29 pm
You know, I can't for the life of me understand why anyone still harps on about returning to Sonic Adventure style... WHY?

When it came out in Dreamcast I loved Sonic Adventure; it was a fun game, I was 13... But looking back on it now it's an absolutely shit Sonic game!
We complain about Werehog gameplay not being right for a Sonic game... When Sonic Adventure 1 had FISHING... FISHING! What says fast action platformer like grinding to a hault to fish for an hour!? In fact overall Sonic gameplay made up what? 25% of the overall game? The rest of it was bogged down with all sorts of nonsense.

And when we look back upon the highlight of the SA games - the (rare) Sonic sections... I still don't see what's so special. People continue to talk about 'exploration' and 'platforming' But I just don't see it... The Sonic stages are about as linear as it gets! In fact, it took until Sonic Colours to reintroduce consequential deviations in the paths that have been MIA since the 90's... And then there is the loose controls and broke af homing attack...

They're just bad... Pure bad.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on March 17, 2017, 01:03:10 pm
You know I can't for the life of me understand why anyone still harps on about returning to Sonic Adventure style... When it came out I loved Sonic Adventure, it was a fun game, I was 13. But looking back on it and playing it, it's a shit Sonic game! People complain about Werehog gameplay in a Sonic game... When Sonic Adventure 1 had FISHING... FISHING!

What says fast action platformer like grinding to a hault to fish for an hour!? In fact overall Sonic gameplay made up what? 25% of the overall game? The rest of it was bogged down with all sorts of nonsense.

And when we look back upon the highlight, the (rare) Sonic sections... I still don't see what's so special. People continue to talk about exploration and platforming... But I just don't see it... The Sonic stages are about as linear as it gets. In fact it took until Sonic Colours to reintroduce consequential deviations in the paths, missing since the 90's... And then there is the loose controls and homing attack.

They're just bad... Pure bad.

fishing was still one part of the game, not the whole thing.  sure there were a bunch of times you had to fish to catch the same frog over n over, and yes it was a pain in the butt, but the story itself was short.  really all Big the cat was was padding. 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on March 17, 2017, 01:11:42 pm
You know, I can't for the life of me understand why anyone still harps on about returning to Sonic Adventure style... WHY?

When it came out in Dreamcast I loved Sonic Adventure; it was a fun game, I was 13... But looking back on it now it's an absolutely shit Sonic game!
We complain about Werehog gameplay not being right for a Sonic game... When Sonic Adventure 1 had FISHING... FISHING! What says fast action platformer like grinding to a hault to fish for an hour!? In fact overall Sonic gameplay made up what? 25% of the overall game? The rest of it was bogged down with all sorts of nonsense.

And when we look back upon the highlight of the SA games - the (rare) Sonic sections... I still don't see what's so special. People continue to talk about 'exploration' and 'platforming' But I just don't see it... The Sonic stages are about as linear as it gets! In fact, it took until Sonic Colours to reintroduce consequential deviations in the paths that have been MIA since the 90's... And then there is the loose controls and broke af homing attack...

They're just bad... Pure bad.
I think for me it's just seeing how japan has been making great strides in game design since this generation started, a renaissance as they say, has got me used to see great inovation in franchises. Think final fantasy, resident evil, metal gear solid, nier, zelda and so on. I like that they're showing that innovation can be done by inventing a new base/framework while still staying true to the franchise and succeed at it. I'm afraid that the boost formula is going to feel stale to me at this point honestly, but then again the game is going to have 3 styles of gameplay apparently. I didnt really know that so that could change everything. Keeping everyone happy as they did with generation, improve upon that and maybe have something unexpected? The 3rd gameplay style has really got me curious...
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on March 17, 2017, 01:18:32 pm
I think for me it's just seeing how japan has been making great strides in game design since this generation started, a renosaince as they say, has got me used to see great inovation in franchises. Think final fantasy, resident evil, metal gear solid, nier, zelda and so on. I like that they're showing that innovation can be done by inventing a new base/framework while still staying true to the franchise and succeed at it. I'm afraid that the boost formula is going to feel stale to me at this point honestly, but then again the game is going to have 3 styles of gameplay apparently. I didnt really know that so that could change everything. Keeping everyone happy as they did with generation, improve upon that and maybe have something unexpected? The 3rd gameplay style has really got me curious...

The Legend Of Zelda especially.  Breath Of The Wild has me excited for the same reasons I'm excited for Sonic Mania.  it's what I loved most about Zelda games in the past, the open world exploration, the secrets to find, the dungeons, weapons breaking takes getting used to, but Final Fantasy 2 and Dark Cloud did it and nobody complained.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Kuronoa on March 17, 2017, 04:04:37 pm
http://kotaku.com/sonic-forces-looks-like-a-2017-take-on-classic-sonic-1793372387

This is what I was talking about before. Other news sites put out a neutral article and yet Kotaku went for the clickbait.

A high res video is floating about and I took several screen caps and added them to our article: http://segabits.com/blog/2017/03/17/sonic-forces-modern-sonic-gameplay-video-and-screens-released-gameplay-details-revealed/ (http://segabits.com/blog/2017/03/17/sonic-forces-modern-sonic-gameplay-video-and-screens-released-gameplay-details-revealed/)

Nice work.
I like the giant mech designs, and when Sonic is in the air you can see the grassy hills are cubic and surreal and not realistic. We might actually see Classic Sonic style environments without being remade zones.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on March 17, 2017, 04:24:10 pm
You know, I can't for the life of me understand why anyone still harps on about returning to Sonic Adventure style... WHY?

When it came out in Dreamcast I loved Sonic Adventure; it was a fun game, I was 13... But looking back on it now it's an absolutely shit Sonic game!
We complain about Werehog gameplay not being right for a Sonic game... When Sonic Adventure 1 had FISHING... FISHING! What says fast action platformer like grinding to a hault to fish for an hour!? In fact overall Sonic gameplay made up what? 25% of the overall game? The rest of it was bogged down with all sorts of nonsense.

And when we look back upon the highlight of the SA games - the (rare) Sonic sections... I still don't see what's so special. People continue to talk about 'exploration' and 'platforming' But I just don't see it... The Sonic stages are about as linear as it gets! In fact, it took until Sonic Colours to reintroduce consequential deviations in the paths that have been MIA since the 90's... And then there is the loose controls and broke af homing attack...

They're just bad... Pure bad.

The games haven't aged well, but I think at the time the industry was a different place. We still saw tons of 3D platformers getting high praise like Banjo Kazooie, Spyro etc and it wasn't intill the end of that gen we saw them all but one or two die. We're starting to see them return from Yooka-Laylee, a hat in time etc mind. I don't think the adventure games are terrible as such, but they did have issues even on release.

As for Adventure 3, I think people that want it are just after a Sonic and friends big adventure. I don't dislike the idea, but it's pretty obvious Sega will need to build A3 with Generations style of gameplay in mind while rethinking the rest.

Also, I forgot to mention in my previous post. Thanks to Segabits and the whole team for covering this event. Your twitter updates and coverage has been great.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on March 17, 2017, 05:14:18 pm
The games haven't aged well, but I think at the time the industry was a different place. We still saw tons of 3D platformers getting high praise like Banjo Kazooie, Spyro etc and it wasn't intill the end of that gen we saw them all but one or two die. We're starting to see them return from Yooka-Laylee, a hat in time etc mind. I don't think the adventure games are terrible as such, but they did have issues even on release. 
Quote


Blame Microsoft for pushing Rare to make other games instead of what they were already working on.  Instead we got weaker versions of Conker, Perfect Dark, and a car building Banjo Kazooie game with a big empty hub world.  Physics got better, but gameplay wasn't as tight.  Games were starting to hit that era of fps war shooters and sandbox games with ragdoll physics.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on March 17, 2017, 10:18:53 pm
The Legend Of Zelda especially.  Breath Of The Wild has me excited for the same reasons I'm excited for Sonic Mania.  it's what I loved most about Zelda games in the past, the open world exploration, the secrets to find, the dungeons, weapons breaking takes getting used to, but Final Fantasy 2 and Dark Cloud did it and nobody complained.
And I even forgot SEGA's own yakuza 6 which also got a nice 'mechanical' update.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on March 17, 2017, 10:56:36 pm
And I even forgot SEGA's own yakuza 6 which also got a nice 'mechanical' update.

I haven't seen or played 6 yet, but heard very good things. 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on March 18, 2017, 05:45:06 am
You know, I can't for the life of me understand why anyone still harps on about returning to Sonic Adventure style... WHY?

Because for me its the best Sonic game ever made and I think you're missing the point of Big the cat, when comparing it to the Werehog sections. To play as BIG the cat was 'entirely optional' and there lies the key difference between the Werehog sections which were not optional at all.

With Sonic Adv you just played as Sonic, it was up to you if you wanted to play as the other characters to add to the games length and that's what I want in a Sonic game and that's just to play as Sonic !. It's what killed the likes HALO V for me, I didn't want to play as anyone else other than the Master chief, or MGS 2 when I only wanted to play as Snake.

Looking over that Sonic Adv was a fantasic adv , I loved the hub sections , the speed of the game, the set-pieces and the level desgined captured every great about Sonic game with its cool attitude  and action, never mind the game having one of the best music scores in video game history  and if that wasn't even it even had a pretty good pinball game in it too.

That game was a true labour of Love and also Windy Valley and Speed Highway are my fav Sonic levels out of any game
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on March 18, 2017, 06:28:39 am
Because for me its the best Sonic game ever made and I think you're missing the point of Big the cat, when comparing it to the Werehog sections. To play as BIG the cat was 'entirely optional' and there lies the key difference between the Werehog sections which were not optional at all.

With Sonic Adv you just played as Sonic, it was up to you if you wanted to play as the other characters to add to the games length and that's what I want in a Sonic game and that's just to play as Sonic !. It's what killed the likes HALO V for me, I didn't want to play as anyone else other than the Master chief, or MGS 2 when I only wanted to play as Snake.

Looking over that Sonic Adv was a fantasic adv , I loved the hub sections , the speed of the game, the set-pieces and the level desgined captured every great about Sonic game with its cool attitude  and action, never mind the game having one of the best music scores in video game history  and if that wasn't even it even had a pretty good pinball game in it too.

That game was a true labour of Love and also Windy Valley and Speed Highway are my fav Sonic levels out of any game


I love Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2, but they've both aged like milk... Even the Sonic sections, the controls are loose and the homing attack is finnicky as hell. I appriciate the grand scale of the adventure, but I don't want to do any activities in a Sonic game besides fast action platforming, but if I JUST play the sonic sections the game is over in what - an hour?

I just find Sonic Colours and Generations a lot more refined. (And fun.) Though I will agree about Windy Valley being really awesome.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on March 18, 2017, 07:04:31 am
but if I JUST play the sonic sections the game is over in what - an hour?

Yeah just like the classic Sonic games which were all short, could be finished in one play and super easy, but for some reason people still rave about Sonic and Sonic II ?.

 I didn't like Sonic Adv II much as I found the whole game a letdown and I hated the horrible Dr Doctor Eggman, Knuckles and Rouge the Bat sections and didn't like the fact that I had to play those sections and it wasn't optional, it broke the game flow for me and I didn't like it.  SEGA got the gameplay spot on for a 3D Sonic game with the daylight sections of Unleashed and I hope the team will just build on and continue the great work in Colors and Gen; Those games were just a little shy of being perfect Sonic games and a bit more polish and fixing small issues would have done .

I can't wait for this myself
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Trippled on March 18, 2017, 09:23:34 am
Personally I think Adventure 2 was rock solid mechanically just like other Sega games during that era like Jet Set Radio Future. Fast forward a year later, Billy Hatcher and Sonic Heroes for some reason felt incredibly clunk and unrefined.
It wasn't until Colors and Generations that Sonic felt finally tight to control. He was on soap ever since Heroes up intil Unleashed.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on March 18, 2017, 02:10:37 pm
Personally I think Adventure 2 was rock solid mechanically just like other Sega games during that era like Jet Set Radio Future. Fast forward a year later, Billy Hatcher and Sonic Heroes for some reason felt incredibly clunk and unrefined.
It wasn't until Colors and Generations that Sonic felt finally tight to control. He was on soap ever since Heroes up intil Unleashed.

For sure.  Even the mechs controlled well.  I also prefer Adventure 2 over 1 for it's very wide range of genres of music and they're all pretty fantastic.  Smooth Jazz, Rap, Rock, even the various Chao Garden themes particularly the good and bad Chao themes.  Adventure 1 had a variety too, but LIVE AND LEARN by itself just annihilates it.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on March 19, 2017, 03:44:42 pm
Itching to play this now. I've re-installed Generations and although it's great, I've played it to death and I've gotten all the red stars etc. Hurry up Sonic Forces!

Might have to dig my Wii out to play Colours.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on March 22, 2017, 11:03:51 am
Shouldn't it make sense that a potential 3rd gameplay would be more open 3d? I feel like these split gameplay type of games are a good thing to satisfy everyone and experiment in the process. Maybe it could lead to something greater in the future if its well received. Boost gameplay has never been my personal favourite, but along side stuff I do favour it would be a perfect package imo. Boost gameplay can be very exhilarating
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on March 22, 2017, 12:08:56 pm
That's not a bad line of thought for this. Just by the 40 second clip, I think they've actually slowed the boost down a bit which is a good move I think, but this 3rd gameplay really could be a mix of anything. It might even just be the free roaming mode like SA1 or something.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on March 22, 2017, 02:14:36 pm
A hub world along the lines of Sonic Utopia would be nice...
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on March 22, 2017, 05:09:49 pm
I dunno. Utopia seems nice, but I don't think a full game like that would be fun. It seemed really odd.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on March 22, 2017, 07:10:30 pm
I dunno. Utopia seems nice, but I don't think a full game like that would be fun. It seemed really odd.

I mean as like a hub world, you know, in between stages where you get to mess around.  Like Sonic Jam for Saturn.  Except have rings and enemies, missions from Knothole residents (if you go the archie/satam route), secret power-ups, secret levels like finding labyrinth zone below that leads to a water stage.  have each area of the hub world themed for it's stage like in Banjo Kazooie.  Just an idea.  Maybe for Sonic Adventure 3?  :)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on March 23, 2017, 01:08:56 pm
Make it a mini-RPG (2-3 hours) in the quest for one emerald. 4 or 5 simple quest and race missions and a boss.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on March 23, 2017, 03:27:44 pm
Make it a mini-RPG (2-3 hours) in the quest for one emerald. 4 or 5 simple quest and race missions and a boss.

If so, it'll be an action RPG.  I don't think kids today will have the patience sadly.  I would love a Final Fantasy esque Sonic game if done right. Dark Brotherhood had kind of the right idea, but was unpolished.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on March 24, 2017, 09:57:32 am
Not sure if its an early development stage thing but there's no reticules lock on noise when sonic does the homing attack in the footage. Would be a welcome change imo, but cuz also be an early stage thing.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: George on March 24, 2017, 11:20:00 pm
Really, Sonic Adventure 2 is great mechanically? What?

The game has so many issues. The story was 'fine' for what it was trying to accomplish, Shadow was actually interesting. But the game had pacing issues due to breaking up gameplay between friends, the later Sonic levels where really badly designed. I feel like the first 2-4 stages of Shadow/Sonic where solid, but you can tell Sonic Team was stretched thin.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on March 24, 2017, 11:27:47 pm
Really, Sonic Adventure 2 is great mechanically? What?

The game has so many issues. The story was 'fine' for what it was trying to accomplish, Shadow was actually interesting. But the game had pacing issues due to breaking up gameplay between friends, the later Sonic levels where really badly designed. I feel like the first 2-4 stages of Shadow/Sonic where solid, but you can tell Sonic Team was stretched thin.

pacing issues?  gameplay broken between friends?   Oh i see, you're another one of those people who say only sonic/shadow levels are good.  see this is the problem with modern sonic, it only focuses on SONIC.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: George on March 25, 2017, 06:49:51 pm
So you're telling the issue with SONIC games is that you play as Sonic and not badly designed friends?

"Wow, Super Mario is bad because you don't play as Toad."

Only Sonic fans.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on March 25, 2017, 07:11:53 pm
So you're telling the issue with SONIC games is that you play as Sonic and not badly designed friends?

"Wow, Super Mario is bad because you don't play as Toad."

Only Sonic fans.

well let's look at the last major Sonic title that used multiple characters, Sonic 06. It sold well for being next gen at the time and people were excited to play a 3d sonic game after shadow hogged the spotlight in the game before.  Not counting Sonic Rush, (which was a handheld game that for some odd reason never count like what happens to mario, mega man, or zelda) it was going to be the next good sonic game.  and then they rushed development, added stuff they didn't need to for padding, it was a mess.  They had multiple characters, but the play styles weren't fleshed out and there was nothing to do.  add that to bad load times that happen way too often, big empty spaces with nothing in them, poorly designed levels loaded with glitches, and you have a game that went against all expectations.  It was then that people considered all of Sonic's friends pointless, which in 06 they basically were.  Up until then even in Sonic Heroes, people were ok playing as other characters even in completely different styles.  Sonic Adventure 1 and 2 did that very well.  but ever since Modern Sonic and the story book games after 06, all it's been is just Sonic.  Sonic Boom gave you control of the others again, but didn't utilize it at all.  It was generic as hell.  Again Sonic Boom had a rushed development. 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Trippled on March 25, 2017, 08:16:54 pm
Really, Sonic Adventure 2 is great mechanically? What?

The game has so many issues. The story was 'fine' for what it was trying to accomplish, Shadow was actually interesting. But the game had pacing issues due to breaking up gameplay between friends, the later Sonic levels where really badly designed. I feel like the first 2-4 stages of Shadow/Sonic where solid, but you can tell Sonic Team was stretched thin.

I don't see any problems with the controls however. It's much better to control than Jet Set Radio as an example.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on March 25, 2017, 10:50:17 pm
I don't see any problems with the controls however. It's much better to control than Jet Set Radio as an example.

Yeah, but everyone is on roller blades in Jet Set Radio. 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: George on March 26, 2017, 04:34:49 am
I'm glad Sonic Team has dropped the friend gameplay, it didn't work and almost killed the brand for a long time. I'm not against them coming back, just as long as the gameplay is good. Sonic Adventure 2 didn't have great ideas for Sonic Friend's gameplay. That's a glaring issue in the games and why it aged badly.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Trippled on March 26, 2017, 05:52:51 am
Yeah, but everyone is on roller blades in Jet Set Radio. 

JSRF is much better and is the best controlling 3d platformers by Sega next to SA2.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on March 26, 2017, 07:23:49 am
I'm glad Sonic Team has dropped the friend gameplay, it didn't work and almost killed the brand for a long time. I'm not against them coming back, just as long as the gameplay is good. Sonic Adventure 2 didn't have great ideas for Sonic Friend's gameplay. That's a glaring issue in the games and why it aged badly.

I think they could make a game out of Sonic and friends quite easy, but they'd need to seperate it from the "main" series which I think should just be about Sonic.

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on March 26, 2017, 08:14:09 am
JSRF is much better and is the best controlling 3d platformers by Sega next to SA2.

They do what sequels do best.  Improve on controls.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on March 26, 2017, 08:15:24 am
I think they could make a game out of Sonic and friends quite easy, but they'd need to seperate it from the "main" series which I think should just be about Sonic.

Well since Sonic Forces isn't doing it, might as well make a Freedom Fighters spinoff.  :p
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Trippled on March 26, 2017, 09:21:04 am
They do what sequels do best.  Improve on controls.

When Sega get's a chance to refine stuff, they do it well.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on March 26, 2017, 09:34:40 am
When Sega get's a chance to refine stuff, they do it well.

yep.  Sonic 2, Shenmue 2, Vector Man 2, Ecco the Dolphin 2....
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on April 13, 2017, 11:14:49 pm
Never thought about this, but I think George and Barry are right about the third character in Sonic Forces:
https://youtu.be/2GjTU9GuK_s

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on April 14, 2017, 02:28:36 am
Sonic Forces looks like a very standard game so far. Something that'll be fun but again nothing special.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on April 14, 2017, 07:27:23 am
Calling it now, the mystery character is Big the cats little brother - Small.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on April 14, 2017, 02:15:47 pm
Sonic Forces will be and look amazing, of coruse the Switch version will look rubbish. I'm going to say its Super Sonic btw
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on April 15, 2017, 10:37:43 am
TA, have you seen the silhouette in that video? It can't be super sonic.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on April 16, 2017, 11:23:02 pm
TA, have you seen the silhouette in that video? It can't be super sonic.

Yeah. It's Super Tails !!! Without his..... tails?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on April 17, 2017, 04:54:40 am
TA, have you seen the silhouette in that video? It can't be super sonic.

Yes I have, but unless its Super Sonic it's not going to make much sense to me . If it's the likes of Tails or Sliver then Sonic Team can expect endless comments of its not a true Sonic game again, which I don't want to see
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on April 17, 2017, 08:04:20 am
I think it could be good even though it's a new character. The problem in the past with new characters isn't the character themselves, but the lack of reason for their inclusion. I can see this new character being a survivor of Robotniks attack and his occupation with a sad backstory leading up to his/her desire to fight back or "join the resistance" as it were.

As Barry and George discuss, I wonder if we'll see a more adventure styled element from this character with Sonic(s) being what we know from Generations. If that is true, it's a little concerning. They could have easily have gained that gameplay from a number of side characters in the Sonic universe without creating a new character.

Just to put my thoughts out there, I don't have a problem with any of the characters in the Sonic universe as such. It makes perfect sense for there to be more then just a handful. The problem however is one of implementation into the games.

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on April 17, 2017, 09:18:52 am
I don't think any of the other characters will have aged, I think perhaps we are seeing an alternate universe where Sonic was put into stasis or removed from time between the end of the Genesis era and Sonic Forces sees him return to a Bad Future.

Perhaps Classic Sonic's introduction will be similar to Generations but this time he is pulled into a portal that causes him to skip all of Adventure 1 to Lost World?

Then again, that doesn't explain how Classic and Modern are all of a sudden in this Bad Future (Bad Present?) together. I don't think they will get too technical with the time travel stuff, or if time travel will even be a factor.

I do think that Tails will simply be Tails in appearance, no aging, and that the third character is not tails and is not another Sonic.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on April 17, 2017, 10:07:49 am
That's a thought Barry. Maybe the game starts with Robotnik discovering an old ruin or something that opens a portal to the past which he traps Sonic in. Stuck in the past, modern Sonic teams up with classic to find a way back to his time. Meanwhile, Robotnik starts his attack on the world leaving Tails and friends to start a resistance where this new character joins.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on April 17, 2017, 08:07:39 pm
Or may be that's not Classic Sonic. That's his son in the future. And the third char is his wife.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on April 17, 2017, 11:49:56 pm
New banner for Sonic Mania on SEGA JP website.
Looks cool.

(http://sega.jp/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/bnr_soft_sonicm.jpg)

They changed the banner into this :

(https://sega.jp/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/bnr_soft_sonicm2.jpg)

I don't know why but I kinda prefer the old one.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on April 25, 2017, 10:49:31 am
They changed the banner into this :

(https://sega.jp/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/bnr_soft_sonicm2.jpg)

I don't know why but I kinda prefer the old one.
They're allgreat imo. So much greatness. This gonna be the greatest sonic year for me. The delay for some reason has only made me extra excited.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on April 25, 2017, 12:35:06 pm
http://segabits.com/blog/2017/04/25/sega-releases-sonic-forces-classic-sonic-gameplay-footage/

The new footage looks good.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on April 26, 2017, 01:30:58 am
Pretty much classic Sonic, but the music is horrible hope its just a placeholder
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on April 27, 2017, 03:37:03 am
What the hell is that music?!

Graphically its better than generations and the colours are better.... But I can't help feel that the asthetic is much more bland and uninspired... And that music... If its not placeholder I don't know what to say...
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on April 28, 2017, 10:43:43 am
The music seemed fine to me. Think it might just be a bit jarring as you expect the Green Hill Zone music for the zone.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on May 09, 2017, 07:25:34 am
Music sound fine, but it's not very memorable.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on May 11, 2017, 11:32:13 am
More flying battery

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDFaRMmWbKo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDFaRMmWbKo)

It looks so good..
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on May 16, 2017, 12:57:58 pm
Barry and George called it!
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on May 16, 2017, 09:34:33 pm
Sally The Chipmunk isn't pleased.

(https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/eb8f231ca21fb457acbf91178a136e926b76df3c4a739947984a348b2ae7436d.jpg)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Randroid on May 17, 2017, 01:59:27 am
Sally The Chipmunk isn't pleased.

(https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/eb8f231ca21fb457acbf91178a136e926b76df3c4a739947984a348b2ae7436d.jpg)

Incoming DLC
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on May 17, 2017, 10:14:57 am
Sally's dead, son. Accept it.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on May 17, 2017, 11:42:14 am
Brutal Barry. Just brutal.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on May 17, 2017, 02:17:57 pm
(https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/images/databank_cliegglars_01_169_c2f0b9cb.jpeg?region=0%2C0%2C1560%2C878&width=768)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on May 17, 2017, 08:15:01 pm
Sally's dead, son. Accept it.

SonAlly Deviantartists react in 3.... 2..... 1....

(http://images4.fanpop.com/image/polls/583000/583895_1290438066164_full.jpg?v=1290438395)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on May 30, 2017, 10:41:38 am
Price reveal: http://segabits.com/blog/2017/05/30/sonic-mania-steam-price-revealed/

It's actually cheaper then I thought it would be.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on May 30, 2017, 11:17:05 am
I'm still pissed at Sega for trashing the comics and keeping Sonic Boom.  That's a dumb business move if you ask me.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on May 31, 2017, 07:31:51 am
Would a trailer with some great animation in the 90s style which I hope is in the game calm you down?

https://youtu.be/vVkeT8kKFM0
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on May 31, 2017, 11:39:00 am
For me it does yes. What a great trailer
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on May 31, 2017, 06:02:30 pm
It's very good yes.  I will take one Sonic Mania over 5 more years of Boom.  o3o
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on June 01, 2017, 02:49:25 am
It'll probably never happen as it costs too much, but I'd love a cartoon in that artstyle. I really hope this game is a huge hit for Sega as this is the very thing sections of the Sonic fanbase have been screaming out for.

https://youtu.be/CMKxVpGyIKo

Picking up where Barry said he's not seeing a lot of advertising for outside the fans...

I do sort of agree, but seeing as this is a return to 90s Sonic, I think the trailers, reviews and so on should be enough. Word of mouth is the most important part of any product and seeing as this is such a well known franchise, I hope it gets around through that.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on June 01, 2017, 06:29:23 am
I'd love a TV spot.
I still vividly remember the Sonic n Knuckles commercials.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on June 01, 2017, 06:44:53 am
I'd love a TV spot.
I still vividly remember the Sonic n Knuckles commercials.

Sonic 2 had the best one.   :))
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on June 01, 2017, 10:04:46 am
Can't wait, fab year for Sonic  !
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on June 06, 2017, 11:55:41 am
New song released for Sonic Forces: https://mobile.twitter.com/sonic_hedgehog/status/872130454991773696
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on June 07, 2017, 03:10:11 am
New song released for Sonic Forces: https://mobile.twitter.com/sonic_hedgehog/status/872130454991773696

That's more like it. Lovely tune
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on June 12, 2017, 11:35:32 am
OMG seen some new footage of this coming from E3. The game and the game engine look incredible!  Sonic Team really are the best inside SEGA Japan for tech these days
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on June 13, 2017, 12:20:11 pm
http://segabits.com/blog/2017/06/13/e3-2017-sonic-forces-trailer-reveals-the-ultimate-villain-team-up/
https://youtu.be/dprxYd_16Ck


The villains have been revealed! Metal Sonic, "Evil" Shadow, Chaos, Zavok, Robotnik join together with a new villain.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on June 14, 2017, 02:36:11 am
Shadow looks cool.

For Sonic Mania, other than Eggman, there are five bosses...

(http://sonic.sega.jp/SonicMania/common/image/chara_05.png)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on June 14, 2017, 03:34:25 am
This is just my guess for how they've designed Mania and Forces...

Sonic Mania:

Seven bosses
Six zones with two acts each, then one final zone with one act and Robotnik as the final boss.
That means Sonic Mania has thirteen acts in total.

Sonic Forces:

Now the villains have been revealed, I'm going to say there's six bosses (Chaos, Shadow, Metal Sonic, Zavok, Robotnik, Inifinite) each with their own zone with three acts - one act for each Modern Sonic, Classic Sonic and custom. That's eighteen acts in total with a big fight featuring all three in the games final boss.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on June 15, 2017, 02:45:48 am
Game looks fab and imo better than the new Mario (which looks slow and boring)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyTzm8WgtlE&t=313s
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on June 15, 2017, 09:54:28 am
Might be wrong, but from what I've seen of the new Mario isn't good. Seems like they had an idea and focused purely on that while forgetting everything else. Might be another Sunshine or worse.

My only real concern with Sonic Forces is the jumping around from one character to another. I can't help but think it might have been better to drop classic Sonic from the 3D games as Mania has that crowed now.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on June 16, 2017, 04:33:28 am
Mario won't be good, but it will get universal praise anyway.
Sonic will actually be more fun, but it will have a lukewarm reception.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on June 16, 2017, 09:07:45 am
https://conflictingviews.wordpress.com/2017/06/14/the-lies-they-weave/ 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on June 16, 2017, 10:20:32 am
https://conflictingviews.wordpress.com/2017/06/14/the-lies-they-weave/ 
dang
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on June 16, 2017, 05:08:33 pm
Mario won't be good, but it will get universal praise anyway.
Sonic will actually be more fun, but it will have a lukewarm reception.
I'll agree with this if the controls in sonic forces arent worse than generations as looks to be the case so far. But yeah the new mario hasnt impressed me either so far
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on June 17, 2017, 05:39:20 am
Anyone else noticing that sonic forces is using sonic colors control feel as the template? Sonic even has a slight double jump
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on June 17, 2017, 02:16:47 pm
I've seen some footage that suggests so, but I think it'll be a mix of Gen and colours than just the one. You dive have more precise control with Colours mind, so it's not a bad move. Guess we'll have to wait and see from the hands on impressions.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on June 17, 2017, 08:59:57 pm
Anyone else noticing that sonic forces is using sonic colors control feel as the template? Sonic even has a slight double jump

Also the focus is only on Sonic.  According to what Izuka said about different playstyles and characters, he doesn't want the focus off of Sonic anymore.  -.-'
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on June 18, 2017, 07:03:08 am
Also the focus is only on Sonic.  According to what Izuka said about different playstyles and characters, he doesn't want the focus off of Sonic anymore.  -.-'

I'm sure we'll see them again in other games. If Izuka doesn't want to add other characters or play styles, then maybe they could let someone else play with the other characters. Keep the focus on Sonic in the main games, while having the odd spin off game about all of them. Heck, they could even call it as the adventure series if they wished.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on June 22, 2017, 09:57:48 pm
I'm sure we'll see them again in other games. If Izuka doesn't want to add other characters or play styles, then maybe they could let someone else play with the other characters. Keep the focus on Sonic in the main games, while having the odd spin off game about all of them. Heck, they could even call it as the adventure series if they wished.

That'd be nice.  Or how about Knuckles Chaotix 2?  :D 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on June 23, 2017, 05:05:06 pm
25th anniversary is over! Here's my write up on the past year: http://segabits.com/blog/2017/06/23/sonic-the-hedgehogs-25th-anniversary-comes-to-an-end-as-the-blue-blur-turns-26/

Also, first 26th anniversary announcement is a Sonic Mania vinyl!

http://segabits.com/blog/2017/06/23/data-discs-to-release-sonic-mania-soundtrack-vinyl/

(http://segabits.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Sonic_Mania_Vinyl_Image_02_1498103304-768x693.jpg)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on June 24, 2017, 12:38:28 am
It's so beautiful.  ;u;
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on July 02, 2017, 02:14:16 pm
That One Gamer has given Mania and Forces the thumbs up: https://youtu.be/LIBdvE-JNpc

Go to 7.00 to see just the Sonic talk.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on July 02, 2017, 06:32:20 pm
That One Gamer has given Mania and Forces the thumbs up: https://youtu.be/LIBdvE-JNpc (https://youtu.be/LIBdvE-JNpc)

Go to 7.00 to see just the Sonic talk.

This was definetely a good E3, at least for nintendo and sega fans.  :)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on July 06, 2017, 11:46:26 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI97jY3FZ9Q

Keep it instrumental. The lyrics and vocals are awful.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on July 07, 2017, 03:29:10 am
FIST. BUMP.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on July 11, 2017, 11:56:31 pm
Since "I will now buy your game" meme is getting popular now....

(http://fs5.directupload.net/images/170712/bhyo7q9w.png)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on July 12, 2017, 12:59:18 am
The world has gone mad.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on July 12, 2017, 02:23:59 am
Damn, people are dumb af
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on July 12, 2017, 03:47:22 am
The original meme btw :

(http://fs5.directupload.net/images/170712/zy9iugof.jpg)

And the girl who made it and you must read this to see why it's so controversial ... yeah, because of her lifestyle and weirdness. (NSFW)

https://lolcow.wiki/wiki/Melanie_Herring
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on July 12, 2017, 08:18:41 am
why are people like this
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on July 12, 2017, 12:31:13 pm
The whole of society is slowing destroying itself Crackdude. Don't worry.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on July 13, 2017, 06:28:53 pm
From what i gathered from this meme according to the creator of it, humanizing animal characters is wrong but not changing their sex?  @.@
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on July 18, 2017, 02:11:09 pm
https://youtu.be/VW6TtXKVLYg

Everything about this game is just spot on so far. Can't wait.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on July 19, 2017, 07:06:13 am
Do we know how many acts in each Zone of Sonic Mania?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on July 19, 2017, 12:13:53 pm
Just a guess from me, but I thought this:

Seven bosses and six zones with two acts each, then one final zone with one act and Robotnik as the final boss.
That means Sonic Mania has thirteen acts in total.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on July 19, 2017, 04:14:45 pm
I believe it will be almost as long as Sonic 3 & Knuckles. We do know it is longer than Generations and there is a boss in each act.

Generations had 9 "zones" with 18 acts with 7 boss battles.

Sonic 3 & Knuckles had 14 Zones with 26 acts with 29 boss battles.

So my guess is Sonic Mania will have 10-12 Zones with 20-22 acts and 21-23 boss battles.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on July 20, 2017, 03:10:24 pm
https://youtu.be/Mn6uqp_mr98

Some elements of that made me cringe. They really need to lose this.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on July 20, 2017, 08:17:46 pm
https://youtu.be/VW6TtXKVLYg (https://youtu.be/VW6TtXKVLYg)

Everything about this game is just spot on so far. Can't wait.

This song reminds me of Rhythm Thief's soundtrack, especially at the end of the song.
Damn, I really miss this kind of music. Really can't wait for Sonic Mania.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on July 21, 2017, 01:42:41 am
https://youtu.be/Mn6uqp_mr98

Some elements of that made me cringe. They really need to lose this.

Don't know why, The game at the end of the day its meant for kids . It looks good to me and don't get hate over the Music, its sounds great to me
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: crackdude on July 21, 2017, 03:38:14 am
Looks and sounds good.
Finally Sonic Team is focusing on what it does best, cheesy and fun.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on July 21, 2017, 11:06:37 am
Don't know why, The game at the end of the day its meant for kids . It looks good to me and don't get hate over the Music, its sounds great to me

I know it's aimed at kids, but surely they know adults play it too? I mean, this is Sonic we're talking about and many have grown up playing, watching and reading this franchise? Also, kids aren't stupid. There's plenty of great animated films, shows and other games out there that does a great job of making stuff for entire familes without treating the youngest as idiots.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on July 21, 2017, 12:19:01 pm
I know it's aimed at kids, but surely they know adults play it too?

I will be for sure. But I accept that the look of the game will be to appeal to children more and that's why we have cute looking characters and over the top cheesy cut scenes.

Don't know why people love to slag Sonic off so much. When Mario gets away with a dress sense that died out the 70's, thinks scouse mustaches are still cool, talks to a talking mushroom, jumps on a talking turtle and where you have a Princess that is so dull, she gets kidnapped every game.

 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Randroid on July 21, 2017, 12:39:49 pm
I'm with TA on this one. Forces is clearly being marketed to the younger demo and Mania is being marketed to the older demo.

The smartest thing ever is that they clearly separated the two. Now they're free go to the extremes without having to consider much for including the alternative demographic.

Mania will be fully classic, Forces will be fully modern. Whatever side of the Sonic fandom you are, you'll be playing a new game this year that will have everything you want and none of what you don't. If you like both styles, you'll be playing both. Genius.

The only thing that betrays this approach is the fact that classic Sonic is a play-style in Forces. Can't wrap my head around that choice yet, but we'll see how it all plays out.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on July 21, 2017, 03:20:24 pm
Guess I can just ignore it if it's truly bad. Just wish they'd stop with the cheese. TA, I'm 100% behind you with Mario, but I think the big difference is the lack of VA helps Mario.

I'm not saying they shouldn't have VA, but at least make the writing stronger.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on July 22, 2017, 05:39:56 am
Guess I can just ignore it if it's truly bad. Just wish they'd stop with the cheese. TA, I'm 100% behind you with Mario, but I think the big difference is the lack of VA helps Mario.

I'm not saying they shouldn't have VA, but at least make the writing stronger.
I think it's just it cool to find fault and hate on Sonic or COD these days. I get what you are saying, but it's Sonic at the end of the day. If you want a grown up more serious and adult platform game, then the likes of Drakes or Tomb Raider are more for you.

The game looks good and seems to build on the Gen and Colour team did, I like that direction for Sonic 3D and for the old school gamer you also getting Sonic Mania
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on July 22, 2017, 07:14:47 am
So my guess is Sonic Mania will have 10-12 Zones with 20-22 acts and 21-23 boss battles.

I would be more than happy with this, I feel like 10 - 12 zones is a good length.

Also, gotta say I am not a fan of the general 'dark' 'edgy' tone they're taking Sonic Forces, I felt like the self aware comedic direction is way better for Sonic in general. HOWEVER, it wont stop me enjoying the gameplay if it plays like Generations and Colours which imo is the perfect 3D Sonic design.

In the end, Sonic Mania is what's really exciting me though... There really hasn't been a Sonic game like this in so long. I'm so eager to get stuck back into genuine feeling classic Sonic enviroments, music, gameplay...
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on July 23, 2017, 07:04:36 am
I sort of feel bad for sonicteam if they end of get a lot of flack while sonic mania ends up being the darling. I mean yeah  its good and all but still very shameful for a huge experienced team to be outdone by a couple of starters. On a more positive note I'm looking forward to the full fledged 3d classic sonic games they may end up producing. Not easy but sonic utopia proves  that it can be done.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on July 23, 2017, 10:02:24 am
I sort of feel bad for sonicteam if they end of get a lot of flack while sonic mania ends up being the darling. I mean yeah  its good and all but still very shameful for a huge experienced team to be outdone by a couple of starters. On a more positive note I'm looking forward to the full fledged 3d classic sonic games they may end up producing. Not easy but sonic utopia proves  that it can be done.

I do and I don't at the same time. Despite all the hate it gets, I don't dislike the Adventure games or how they played for the most part. Sure, they had issues, but nothing to the point of being awful or worthy of the hate it gets. It's funny how they only got bad reviews after the Dreamcast died...

I think the problem they've had is mostly to do with direction. They flip flop every few games in gameplay and they seem to be pushing for the story to be for little kids instead of giving it mass appeal like other media does. Mania is clearly aimed at the old gamers, but at least it's premise isn't talking down to it's audience.

Sonic Mania's story: https://www.sonicstadium.org/2017/07/sdcc-sonic-mania-panel-roundup-special-stage-reveal/man2/
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Happy Cat on July 23, 2017, 09:17:19 pm
Looks and sounds good.
Finally Sonic Team is focusing on what it does best, cheesy and fun.

I agree with crackdude, let Sonic Team do what they do best. SEGA can hire another team to appeal to people who want classic style games, maybe the Mania team?

Classic style games have always been a weakness for modern day Sonic Team.


i'll take edgy Sonic any day over another Lost World


Sonic Forces is going to sell well, as is Sonic Mania. It could be a realistic sales model for SEGA going forward and keep everyone happy.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on July 24, 2017, 02:49:09 am
I sort of feel bad for sonicteam if they end of get a lot of flack while sonic mania ends up being the darling. I mean yeah  its good and all but still very shameful for a huge experienced team to be outdone by a couple of starters. On a more positive note I'm looking forward to the full fledged 3d classic sonic games they may end up producing. Not easy but sonic utopia proves  that it can be done.

How do you know they're out done? We've let to play both games tbf. It's just cool to bash modern Sonic and harp back to the classic SOINC. Not matter how good Modern Sonic is, it will always be bashed more by people who don't like Sonic and haven't bought a Modern Sonic game because it's just so cool and in vogue to bash modern Sonic and Retro is so cool these days

Modern Sonic gets the same sort of crap and bashing the likes of COD gets . And tbh its not like the Classic Sonic were that good imo. Mario IV was a much better game with better level design and to me Revenge of Shinobi and Quackshot were far better Mega Drive platform games
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on July 28, 2017, 02:41:22 pm
Some places are listing Sonic Forces for the 7th of November.

That's a bit later then I expected really. Thought it wouldn't be too far behind Mania. Fingers crossed the time and effort pays off for the team.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on August 10, 2017, 08:23:55 pm
Opening Animation for Sonic Mania.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA9zwpMj_8A
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on August 11, 2017, 10:44:24 am
This looks like something special. It really does. Can't wait to play it.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on August 14, 2017, 12:37:03 pm
SEGAbits Review! http://segabits.com/blog/2017/08/14/review-sonic-mania-ps4-xbox-one-switch-pc/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pp0wZ4O6bck

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Betwixt Thieves on August 14, 2017, 01:15:43 pm
Just read through the review. Feels like most sites are lambasting the game for difficulty, too faithful to original material, and no QTE (ok I made the last one up). It is refreshing to see that the SegaBits review calls out some of these things, but with a humble response that our reflexes have been softened with this current generation of games while acknowledging that this game is faithful to what most of us cut our teeth on when we first began our Sega gaming career.

Thanks for a review that helps me understand what I will be sliding in to when my Collector's Edition shows up at my doorstep.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Kuronoa on August 14, 2017, 02:55:50 pm
I see lots of people who haven't played a Sonic game since 90s or early 00s that makes me both happy and frightened. Is anyone else here going to encourage people to try Sonic games they missed? I will fail miserably but I don't want people to go back into hiding just in case the next game isn't a Mania 2.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Betwixt Thieves on August 14, 2017, 04:13:28 pm
I see lots of people who haven't played a Sonic game since 90s or early 00s that makes me both happy and frightened. Is anyone else here going to encourage people to try Sonic games they missed? I will fail miserably but I don't want people to go back into hiding just in case the next game isn't a Mania 2.

To be honest I am one of these people. I haven't played a Sonic game since the Dreamcast. I have kept up with other Sega IP, but for some reason have avoided the Sonic titles. Should I venture forth in retrieving the past 15 years of games or leave them buried?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Kuronoa on August 14, 2017, 05:08:30 pm
To be honest I am one of these people. I haven't played a Sonic game since the Dreamcast. I have kept up with other Sega IP, but for some reason have avoided the Sonic titles. Should I venture forth in retrieving the past 15 years of games or leave them buried?
Well I want people to pick up what may interest them. The series is quite varied there is something for everybody contrary to what narrative typically says.

This is what I say to recommending Modern Sonic, I assume you played Adventure:

Advance games
Rush games
Colors
Generations

Worth a play:
Heroes
Unleashed
Lost World
Riders 1
Battle

Skip everything else. All Star Racing I consider a Sega crossover series not really Sonic.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on August 14, 2017, 09:25:56 pm
Is there Sonic's amiibo compatibility for Sonic Mania?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on August 15, 2017, 12:06:08 am
Apart from some minor issues, it seems this is reviewing very well across the entire gaming industry which is incredible considering the bias media we have. Well done to the team and I'm really looking forward to playing this.

I wonder if Sega will allow them to keep making these or even let them try making a 3D game too.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on August 15, 2017, 11:19:20 am
The bias is real: http://m.neogaf.com/showthread.php?t=1419688

Note, it's worth remembering large chunks of the gaming media such as reviewers etc go on or use neogaf to form opinions.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on August 15, 2017, 07:25:33 pm
 Chemical Plant Zone Act 2 Boss..
That's the most unexpected boss of Sonic games I've ever played. Lol.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Centrale on August 15, 2017, 09:22:43 pm
Just played a bit and it's really a brilliant game. The levels are enormous. Also I think the CRT filters are some of the best I've ever seen. Not some crappy blur effect due to people thinking that CRTs were so blurry that individual pixels couldn't be seen. They actually look like the pattern of tiny lights that make up an old school TV or monitor.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on August 18, 2017, 02:02:15 pm
I've been gifted Sonic 1 on Steam. Does anyone here want it?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Betwixt Thieves on August 18, 2017, 06:08:29 pm
I've been gifted Sonic 1 on Steam. Does anyone here want it?

Hopefully someone on here still needs it. That is a kind offer.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on August 23, 2017, 12:01:26 am
I'll never trust Pocket Gamer review / score again. Ever !
Used to look up that website for searching good mobile games, but never again.

http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Switch/Sonic%20Mania/review.asp?c=75036
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on August 24, 2017, 10:57:20 am
https://youtu.be/NhwBpAQnYvs
https://youtu.be/o4UwxxN5v94

It's starting to appear a bit like a mash up of Generations, Heroes and Colours at the moment with Lost Worlds colour palette. My only real concern is the mix of styles. It seems Sonic Team can't help themselves on that front.

It might be nothing as it's too early to tell, but I haven't seen many paths in the modern Sonic mode yet either.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Betwixt Thieves on August 24, 2017, 06:57:59 pm
I'll be honest - I have not been following the news on Sonic Forces. Is the whole game like a runner style mobile game?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on August 25, 2017, 02:47:55 am
Knuckles' officially confirmed to be on the game.

(https://sega.jp/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/170824_soft_1_l01.jpg)

I'll be honest - I have not been following the news on Sonic Forces. Is the whole game like a runner style mobile game?

Not whole, there are also a 2D actions using Classic Sonic.
Just like Generations
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Betwixt Thieves on August 25, 2017, 10:01:49 am
@Berto  Thanks for the answer!
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on August 25, 2017, 10:45:13 am
It's weird one. Sonic is a platformer, but there's quite a lot you can do in the games besides just going from A to B. There's exploration to learn the map or power ups, rings, special stages or even just find shortcuts for those wanting to speed run it. That's what the 2D games are known for at least. The 3D ones tend to jump around with ideas, but the basic foundations are still there.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on August 29, 2017, 02:12:01 pm
On zone 3 now on my first play of Sonic Mania. It's been great so far, it really has. I love the little animations and the level of detail in everything. I can completely see why some people don't like the blue sphere zones, but I'm okay with so far. I think the biggest issue of them is just how fast Sonic speeds up. Makes it a little tough on the eyes to watch.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on August 29, 2017, 05:27:04 pm
So it turns out the steam version is using DRM that even the devil thinks is too much.

Sega, could you not be a complete and utter screw up of a company? Cheers.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on August 29, 2017, 07:56:16 pm
I'll never trust Pocket Gamer review / score again. Ever !
Used to look up that website for searching good mobile games, but never again.

http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Switch/Sonic%20Mania/review.asp?c=75036 (http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Switch/Sonic%20Mania/review.asp?c=75036)

Have you guys read the article's comment section?
I hate to make stupid people famous, but I couldn't help it so here we go.

The review :

(http://fs5.directupload.net/images/170830/uezbo2uc.png)

The reviewer's comments (two of them) :

(http://fs5.directupload.net/images/170830/ifsrx2hl.png)

(http://fs5.directupload.net/images/170830/doictl2r.png)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Betwixt Thieves on August 29, 2017, 10:43:48 pm
Glen Fox takes the high road. A true gentleman.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on August 29, 2017, 10:52:54 pm
Glen Fox takes the high road. A true gentleman.

Yeah, may be either go big or go home.
His comments should be on his article though, that would be more entertaining to read on metacritic.

Sonic Mania (Nintendo Switch) Review

"This is a game that will thrill long-time fans and introduce brand new ones to what Sonic is like at its very best. Far from the tone-deaf reinventions and cynical cash-ins of Sonic at its worst, this is a love-filled celebration that also proves there is life in the 25-year-old original concept yet. 10 of 10 "
(Tim Biggs - The Sydney Morning Herald)

"Sonic Mania is a true return to form for the mascot, in his 2D 'Classic' guise at least. It celebrates the glory days of the original games while also enhancing their qualities and taking on new ideas. Sonic Mania belongs in the company of the games to which it pays tribute - the Blue Blur is back. 9 of 10"
(Thomas Whitehead - Nintendolife)

"Sonic Mania methodically uses its sentimental appeal to great effect, but in the process, it heals the wounds inflicted by its most disappointing predecessors and surpasses the series' best with its smart and interpretive design. 9 of 10"
(Matt Espineli - Gamespot)

"Poor butt hurt Sega fans. Don't they realise that Nintendo is riding high on the Switch wave while Sega is hiring modders to make games for them now because they're so past it? And look at the embarrassing Sega Forever! I'd go so far as to say that anyone who likes Sonic is a moron. 6 of 10"
(Glen Fox - Pocket Gamer)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on August 30, 2017, 12:14:08 am
With writing like that, he'll get snapped up by IGN in no time.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: pirovash88 on August 30, 2017, 12:51:15 pm
I want to know how that Pocket Gamer dude has a job, seriously wtf. He's a god damn disgrace.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on August 31, 2017, 03:29:52 am
I want to know how that Pocket Gamer dude has a job, seriously wtf. He's a god damn disgrace.

His job is not just as a writer / reviewer btw.
He's an EDITOR !

Glen Fox heads up Pocket Gamer as our new Editor
 http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Other...ws.asp?c=71540 (http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Other/Pocket+Gamer/news.asp?c=71540)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Betwixt Thieves on August 31, 2017, 09:27:14 am
Mind boggling that the guy loves vapid experiences on cell phones and then burns Sonic Mania. No offense if people like mobile games, but I think most of us know they are normally inferior experiences due to interfaces and to appeal to casuals. Also the Mii profile in the article you posted show where his heart is in case he didn't abundantly state it in his Sonic Mania review.

It would be like if I was going to give a review on a book about being a mom. I wouldn't be qualified to review the book properly since I'm not a mom and I'm not a female even. My review would have value to no one. 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on August 31, 2017, 12:54:04 pm
So, Sonic Forces will be £30/$40 on release it seems.

That's not too bad at all, but it does make me worry that they're not sure it's as good as they had hoped or it's another Unleashed. That game was released at a cheaper price too.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Betwixt Thieves on August 31, 2017, 01:12:59 pm
I was worried about the price point too. Seems like Sega has been doing this with all their recent releases. Maybe their strategy is to get more sales up front instead of people waiting for the $20 ticket price that a lot of gamers wait for until they pick up a game. The market of $60 games showing up for $20 if you wait 4-6 months is killing the industry.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on August 31, 2017, 01:21:41 pm
I was worried about the price point too. Seems like Sega has been doing this with all their recent releases. Maybe their strategy is to get more sales up front instead of people waiting for the $20 ticket price that a lot of gamers wait for until they pick up a game. The market of $60 games showing up for $20 if you wait 4-6 months is killing the industry.

That is true. The cheaper indie games have been showing up a lot of big titles and maybe they're thinking this will edge people to buy it now. Plus, let's face it, most big games drop in price by the time there's an update to fix all the bugs.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: pirovash88 on September 01, 2017, 11:10:18 am
So, Sonic Forces will be £30/$40 on release it seems.

That's not too bad at all, but it does make me worry that they're not sure it's as good as they had hoped or it's another Unleashed. That game was released at a cheaper price too.

I'm not worried, if anything, SEGA has been releasing newer games at a lower price point. Yakuza Kiwami and Valkyria Revolution of great indicators of that.

I wouldn't worry about it too much. I was actually on the fence about this, but now that it's only $40 on day 1, i think i'll be preordering it.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on September 03, 2017, 11:34:27 pm
Mind boggling that the guy loves vapid experiences on cell phones and then burns Sonic Mania. No offense if people like mobile games, but I think most of us know they are normally inferior experiences due to interfaces and to appeal to casuals. Also the Mii profile in the article you posted show where his heart is in case he didn't abundantly state it in his Sonic Mania review.

It would be like if I was going to give a review on a book about being a mom. I wouldn't be qualified to review the book properly since I'm not a mom and I'm not a female even. My review would have value to no one.

He deleted all of his comments.
All 18 of them, even one that's not offensive to others.
I wish I took more than two screenshots, lol.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on September 04, 2017, 01:14:43 pm
The thing about being a game reviewer is that you must have an unbiased opinion and state all the facts.  Problem is in the case for this series though, Sonic is the punching bag for many of those reviews.  Then you have fans who demand nothing but perfect scores regardless of a game's flaws.  (Paid reviews are dirty too.)  This however seems honest enough.  I do hope Sonic Mania regains respect for the series.  Forces can jump off a cliff though.  :p
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on September 04, 2017, 01:16:35 pm
Also Nintendo fans can be verrrrry biased.  :p
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on September 05, 2017, 02:07:38 pm
I checked out that Glen guy's Pocket Gamer article and saw all his replies were deleted.

Though he still has this tweet up: https://twitter.com/foxy_glen/status/902280617664147456
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on September 06, 2017, 08:11:48 pm
I checked out that Glen guy's Pocket Gamer article and saw all his replies were deleted.

Though he still has this tweet up: https://twitter.com/foxy_glen/status/902280617664147456 (https://twitter.com/foxy_glen/status/902280617664147456)

Must've got smoked in the comments. 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on September 07, 2017, 01:51:26 am
Must've got smoked in the comments.

One of long time Pocket Gamer reviewer, Emily Sowden, is a SEGA fan.
I bet she talked some sense into him.

---------

Anyway on another topic, check this out..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sonic-Mania-Nintendo-Switch-Custom-Case-with-Sleeve-Art-no-game-included-/322707743748?hash=item4b22e16404:g:vmkAAOSwm-pZq4YP

Who'd ever guess Sonic Mania's custom case could be worth more than the game itself.
May be because blank switch box case is still hard to find.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on September 10, 2017, 07:22:07 pm
This is a nice video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKfrg3-1klw
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on September 11, 2017, 12:32:34 am
I'm 28, I still get harassed by my neighbors on a daily basis, Sonic is one of the few things in my life that I can go back to and just forget about it.  Thanks Sega.  Just don't mess with it.  You take away what entertainment and escapism I have when you do.  If something is good, then don't change it.  It's like that for me when it comes to Marvel, Star Wars, Anime and Manga, or any game I played growing up.  Especially since many of those were with my family or my friend who passed away in 2014.  Shining Force was what inspired me to draw comics with him when we were just around 11 years old well into our teens.  Star Wars Episode 3 was a movie we saw that we thought wrapped up the franchise perfectly.  But no.  Disney had other plans.  Episode 7 copies episode 4 yet ignores what made episode 4 great in the first place.  Say what you will about the prequels, they had heart and felt like they tied into Star Wars as a whole.  Don't mess with something that works.  Look at the later Shining games.  They were totally different from the older games on the Genesis and people hated them for it.  Look at Final Fantasy.  Sonic is no different to me.  You change something from it's core values so drastically, it's like you cut the heart out of it.  All that hard work and passion that went into it, GONE.  This is why I want SatAM to come back so badly.  IDW has freedom and range with it's intellectual properties based on older franchises proving they still work for today's kids.  MLP, transformers, TMNT.  all older cartoons meant to sell toys in the 80s brought back stronger than ever for today.  Sonic Boom will be very dated.  SatAM however is cool enough to be entertaining today like those other shows.  With all the sci fi in today's tv and movies, how can it not work?  I saw the vector episode of sonic boom today, and the first 20 seconds in I immediately switched out.  The forced banter about Amy's hammer and Knuckles not being able to remember he has hands was too much.  I'm sorry.  that's terrible.  that is not funny at all.  Mike Pollock keeps defending it, but it's his paycheck at stake.  I get that.  Sega of Japan, please.... listen to this poor fanboy.  Please let Sonic be cool.  Please let the new comic be cool.  Please let Modern Sonic be cool like Classic Sonic in Sonic Mania.  Please understand why the older characters worked.  Please understand how much the Freedom Fighters mean to me.  Please.  PLEASE.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on September 11, 2017, 04:03:30 am
I'm 28, I still get harassed by my neighbors on a daily basis, Sonic is one of the few things in my life that I can go back to and just forget about it.  Thanks Sega.

Your neighbors harass you on a daily basis?
Why???
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on September 14, 2017, 11:55:29 am
https://youtu.be/Yxu7M4hWsyQ

I think the games shaping up to be decent. My only real concern is just a suspicion that the acts might be quite linear instead of multi pathed like Mania and Generations. I don't know why, but I can see them being linear because they've got three versions of each act - classic Sonic, Modern Sonic and the avatars. If what you say is true about infinte plucking old enemies out of time, then I guess that explains why Classic Sonic is there to an extent...he might of got plucked out by accident or something.

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on September 14, 2017, 08:23:12 pm
Your neighbors harass you on a daily basis?
Why???

i live in the ghetto.  i can't even invite people to my place for games n junk.  used to be able to. 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Shun-Di on September 14, 2017, 08:27:46 pm
https://youtu.be/Yxu7M4hWsyQ (https://youtu.be/Yxu7M4hWsyQ)

I think the games shaping up to be decent. My only real concern is just a suspicion that the acts might be quite linear instead of multi pathed like Mania and Generations. I don't know why, but I can see them being linear because they've got three versions of each act - classic Sonic, Modern Sonic and the avatars. If what you say is true about infinte plucking old enemies out of time, then I guess that explains why Classic Sonic is there to an extent...he might of got plucked out by accident or something.

the levels do look linear even in the 3D stages.  But I am happy to see more story.   It sorta resembles old modern sonic, that aint a bad thing.  But gameplay just looks like run, attack a group of enemies, run, grab a bunch of rings, run, ect.  pretty basic.  But whatever, this is for the kids.  :p 
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Tad on September 23, 2017, 11:06:23 am
https://youtu.be/tbIO4uO7awg (https://youtu.be/tbIO4uO7awg)

There's also this: http://www.neogaf.com/showthread.php?t=1437216
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: pirovash88 on September 23, 2017, 11:11:21 pm
Thanks for posting, Tad. I'm really digging the new footage for Forces. It's starting to remind me of Sonic Adventure somehow.


And that eye SEGA logo at the end is cool. I saw a sweet vid called Amazing Sega being played at the end of their TGS Press yesterday, i'll post it here. I couldn't understand it, but thought it was cool, found one with subs, not sure if you guys have seen it already.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auuC4B-PKCg



Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on October 03, 2017, 01:39:19 am
A tribute ?

(http://fs5.directupload.net/images/171003/i58yn4vg.jpg)
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on October 25, 2017, 08:07:19 pm
I don't get this trailer at all

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH8hps9Thcw

Who's the guy on Sonic's costume supposed to be? Aaron (Sonic Twitter guy)? Custom char on Sonic Forces?
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on October 26, 2017, 01:19:27 pm
Sonic forces has been a trainwreck
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on October 27, 2017, 01:54:26 am
Played the demo on PS4. Its really good, and more Sonic Gen only with 60 fps and some lovely GFX. Not to taken on the Avtar section, but even that part was decent.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on October 28, 2017, 12:45:59 pm
Sonic forces has been a trainwreck

How so? Fans will always bitch about 3D Sonic games, and TBH it's a vocal minority. Most people are just aware of a 3D Sonic game called Sonic Forces releasing soon and it looks like Generations. SEGA could market the game more, and should, as from what I've seen from the first hour of gameplay the game is pretty cool looking.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: pirovash88 on October 28, 2017, 02:30:32 pm
I dunno, I'm looking forward to it and honestly don't understand the hate it's getting.

It looks like a Generations 2.0, which imo is great!

I've always thought 3D sonic games were hit or miss, but I'm liking what I've seen so far, especially for $40.

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on October 28, 2017, 04:56:50 pm
How so? Fans will always bitch about 3D Sonic games, and TBH it's a vocal minority. Most people are just aware of a 3D Sonic game called Sonic Forces releasing soon and it looks like Generations. SEGA could market the game more, and should, as from what I've seen from the first hour of gameplay the game is pretty cool looking.
I think the issue with 3d sonic games is that the overall package usually existed of some good parts and some bad parts, however recently that hadn't been the case anymore. Now with sonic forces this time it just seems like the bad parts outweigh the good in a bad way once again. Im not just talking about the gameplay but also the music, story and artstyle. It's just not doing much for me. Im hoping it'll be solid but if my thoughts arent part of a vocal minority than this could be a huge letdown overall..
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on October 29, 2017, 05:24:33 am
I watched your impressions of the demo Barry and I really can't tell if classic sonic's movements are improved in this. Heck even modern sonic and custom character look like they don't control as fluidly. There's that same awkward stop and go feeling Sonic Lost World had, only without a run button this time. I will say some of the level design looks great/.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on October 29, 2017, 07:47:29 pm
WTF happening with youtube.
It's full of Sonic Forces spoilers.  :(
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on October 31, 2017, 06:49:21 am
This game is just not doing it for me like Sonic Colours, Sonic Generations did... Too many little things that I hate.

-That dark, black and red aesthetic... it's like they learned nothing.
-The music, first Sonic game where I have not heard a single track that sounds remotely good or memorable.
-Characters chatting their shit lines while you're playing the level.
-Dedication so much development time to that character creation mode... Making a character is fine but giving them levels? Dev time could have been better spent lengthening the Sonic levels.

Sonic is at its best when it's light-hearted, colourful, inventive, humorous... Pretty much everything Sonic Mania was and everything Sonic Forces is not.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on November 10, 2017, 04:29:48 am
Really enjoying this game. Love the story and how all the characters come together to take on Eggman, some of the boss battles are  fab and its looks ace on the One X and runs as smooth as butter.  Its a fab well made 8 out of 10 games for me.

I just wish some of the stages when on for longer. Not quite as good as Generatations but its a great game in its own right
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on November 10, 2017, 05:20:26 am
I disagree, after playing Sonic Mania, it really shows Sonic Team for the hacks they are. On the technical side, they build a really beautiful engine everything else, including the music, was just bollocks. After such a long wait it's so disappointing.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on November 10, 2017, 05:50:05 am
I disagree, after playing Sonic Mania, it really shows Sonic Team for the hacks they are. On the technical side, they build a really beautiful engine everything else, including the music, was just bollocks. After such a long wait it's so disappointing.

I found mania to be totally overrated and just getting rave reviews mainly down because its retro looks and retro is so cool these days. I'm enjoying Sonic Forces more than Mario Oddesy too, which is another game totally overrated and does nothing to me at all
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: CrazyT on November 12, 2017, 12:51:06 pm
I've disliked plenty of sonic games but i've never actually skipped (non sonic boom) one.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: pirovash88 on November 12, 2017, 06:40:32 pm
I had fun with Forces. It wasn't bad, wasn't good, it was just ok. At least the visuals and music were good though.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Sharky on November 13, 2017, 07:33:02 am
I found mania to be totally overrated and just getting rave reviews mainly down because its retro looks and retro is so cool these days. I'm enjoying Sonic Forces more than Mario Oddesy too, which is another game totally overrated and does nothing to me at all

Sonic Mania is easily my game of the year. I enjoyed everything about it... The tone was spot on, the level design, the music.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on November 13, 2017, 09:00:23 am
Sonic Mania is easily my game of the year. I enjoyed everything about it... The tone was spot on, the level design, the music.

It did nothing for me at all and people are just praising the game because it looks and plays like a classic 16-bit Sonic game, because Retro is now so cool on Twitter and youtube or what not. I'm glad you liked it and I know you don't rubbish Sonic games to jump on the cool hate bandwagon. So I respect you don't like Forces, but I'm enjoying the game, love the friendship, story aspect the game and find the boss battles  found in the game to be the best in any Sonic game ( Ilove the snake boss)

Its a step backwards step from Gen, but still a good game. I just wished Sonic Team spent more time with Boom sections and made them much longer, because I love that style of game and it works for Sonic 3D. Also, the game looks quite nice and runs at a rock solid 60 fps onthe consoles and that does make a big diff to the game.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on November 13, 2017, 11:12:00 am
Quote
it looks and plays like a classic 16-bit Sonic game

And this is why it is great.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on November 13, 2017, 11:58:20 am
And this is why it is great.

That's 1991/2 . I don't want to play games that I played to death in the past and to be quite frank never were a match for Mario IV or Quackshot   I really love to see the Sonic series go back to Sonic Adv and use that style myself .

Sonic Mania to me, it what the Mega CD game should have been like, with full use of the ASIC chip. Back then, that would have been ace, but not for me today sorry.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Randroid on November 13, 2017, 03:23:11 pm
Ok, just finished both Mania and Forces this weekend.

I gotta say, I'm kind of stuck between both your points Barry, TA.

Mania is perfectly crafted, but does feel dated. Forces would have impressed me, if Colors and Generations never existed.

They both feel like fan games to me. 

I've grown to prefer the modern boost gameplay when it's done right, but I'm sure Mania will be better regarded though, so there is probably more of that coming. 

No complaints either way. I love Sonic. I just love spending time in that world.

Looking back, I'm starting to feel that Sonic Colors was the last great, wholly original Sonic game.



Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: pirovash88 on November 14, 2017, 03:39:54 pm
That's 1991/2 . I don't want to play games that I played to death in the past and to be quite frank never were a match for Mario IV or Quackshot   I really love to see the Sonic series go back to Sonic Adv and use that style myself .

Sonic Mania to me, it what the Mega CD game should have been like, with full use of the ASIC chip. Back then, that would have been ace, but not for me today sorry.

Glad to know not everyone felt this way about it. I thought Mania was fantastic, the biggest sell for me was the nostalgia factor. Brought me back to playing Sonic for the first time when i was 3 years old in 91. Not sure why anyone wouldn't want to have that feeling again.

Forces on the other hand, fun, but forgettable overall.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on November 15, 2017, 02:07:46 am
Brought me back to playing Sonic for the first time when i was 3 years old in 91.


And I was a teenager who already though even back in 1993 that Sonic was too simple and way overrated and Mario IV, Quackshot the much better games (though the Sonic games were fun) . I still have my MD and Mega CD even have the Sonic Jam I really don't need Mania to remind me of the classic Sonic I can just play them in their original form on the original hardware; that's not to show off or been cool, I've never sold off my launch SEGA Hardware and kept them all, long before this retro fad 




To put it into context, If SEGA made a new OutRun or Powerdrift game I want to it to use current tech and be in full 3D, rather than it to be made in a cool retro Sprite scaler look.

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on November 17, 2017, 04:18:45 am
Just something I edited for the Facebook group.

(http://fs1.directupload.net/images/171117/ry5wujoq.jpg)

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Team Andromeda on November 17, 2017, 05:09:03 am
Overrated doesn't mean a game is rubbish or bad. Case in point.. Sonic Adv II, not a bad game at all, but one that was vastly overrated at the time and was reviewed at the time when Sonic and Sonic Team had a lot a street cred.

Another game that was vastly overrated was Donkey Kong Country on the Snes and was very much like Sonic where people loved it more for its simple gameplay and ace gfx.

Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on March 01, 2018, 06:59:41 pm
Gotta go slow...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAVf_yfJQAQ
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on March 04, 2018, 08:44:03 pm
I want to know how that Pocket Gamer dude has a job, seriously wtf. He's a god damn disgrace.

His job is not just as a writer / reviewer btw.
He's an EDITOR !

Glen Fox heads up Pocket Gamer as our new Editor
 http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Other...ws.asp?c=71540 (http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Other/Pocket+Gamer/news.asp?c=71540)

Remember him ? Pocket Gamer Editor who gave Sonic Mania 6 of 10 and said this, ""Poor butt hurt Sega fans. Don't they realise that Nintendo is riding high on the Switch wave while Sega is hiring modders to make games for them now because they're so past it? And look at the embarrassing Sega Forever! I'd go so far as to say that anyone who likes Sonic is a moron."

Apparently, he's not an Editor on Pocket Gamer anymore.
He's now on ............. Nintendolife (one of my favorite gamesites, damn it).

(http://fs5.directupload.net/images/180305/3a3n7pf2.jpg)

"He insists on ignoring the best games so he can focus on finding the good in the universally loathed or ignored."

Yeah, sure Glen. I believe you.
I hope you'll find the good in the game you loathed too.
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Berto on July 27, 2018, 01:27:37 am
Is this site reliable?
http://www.breakingnews365.net/5a40f29d27047/rumor-sega-is-already-working-on-the-next-2-sonic-games-for-2019-and-they-sound-promising.html
Title: Re: Sonic 25th Anniversary - Offical Topic.
Post by: Barry the Nomad on July 31, 2018, 02:42:23 pm
Oh god, Nintendolife is getting worse and worse.