Sonic The Hedgehog (PS3/X360) Preview

[RainOfTerror]

Sonic The Hedgehog melds top-tier animation production values with next generation art, physics and game design to create the most intense, high velocity Sonic adventure yet! Featuring interactive 3D environments, a large cast of new and returning characters, and a blistering sense of speed, get ready for the reinvention of Sonic The Hedgehog! Our resident Sonic guru catches up with the hog for some more details, here is a snip :

This new Sonic is split into three parts: one for Sonic, one for Shadow, and one for a new hedgehog by the name of Silver, who isn't fast, but has extreme telekinetic powers. Expect to turn missiles back onto the robots that fired them, to levitate across pits, and to suspend and hurl objects such as crates and cars with the power of his mind. Silver is even able to bend steel girders by sheer force of will, turning them into trampolines. Now that's power. Why he's after Sonic is anyone's guess, just as why the Eggman that Sonic's after seems to have undergone the best diet ever.Check the full Sonic The Hedgehog preview (http://www.worthplaying.com/article.php?sid=34182) over at WorthPlaying

[Mozgus]

God I wish they would just remake the 4 main genesis titles, with sharp cel-shading, a re-done soundtrack (Same tunes, but high quality instruments), and the same 2d gameplay. This shit just does not do it for me.

[Zeal]

Is it just me or is this game becoming progressively uglier. If you compare the original announcement movie to the latest videos and shots, it looks like a different game. Much lower polygon models and muddy textures.

[Borys]

Is it just me or is this game becoming progressively uglier. If you compare the original announcement movie to the latest videos and shots, it looks like a different game. Much lower polygon models and muddy textures.

Welcome to the real world where doctored stuff made on pimped out dev. machines meets the final hardware.

I noticed same thing with the recent Viva Pinata shots (weird).

[Vandenh]

Eurogamer had a preview as well last week and in their eyes it was VERY VERY meh. Sonic died on DC.

[bapenguin]

I noticed same thing with the recent Viva Pinata shots (weird).

Really? I saw Viva Pinata in action back in March and it looked just like the screens.

Where did you see some new ones?

[Borys]

Really? I saw Viva Pinata in action back in March and it looked just like the screens.

Where did you see some new ones?

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=104688

IMO (IMO!) it looks slightly worse than the last batch.

Still, I'd love a Banjo Kazooie 3 on that engine.

[Vandenh]

>IMO (IMO!) it looks slightly worse than the last batch.

Strange I think they look better....

Texture work seems to be better, but there are more jaggies... maybe that is what you notice.

>Still, I'd love a Banjo Kazooie 3 on that engine.

The engine certainly is quite interesting. I hope Rare will indeed re-use it for another game. Can you say Sabre Wulf? ;)

[Borys]

The engine certainly is quite interesting. I hope Rare will indeed re-use it for another game. Can you say Sabre Wulf? ;)

BK3 is one of those games I'll have to buy 360 for. The other one is BioShock but (for now) it hits the PC also.

I am one of the few people that thinks that Banjo Kazooie was BETTER than Mario 64.

[Heretic Machine]

I fucking hate Zombie-Sega.

[Mike Jones]

Is it just me or is this game becoming progressively uglier. If you compare the original announcement movie to the latest videos and shots, it looks like a different game. Much lower polygon models and muddy textures.

Looks the same to me

http://www.ps3portal.com/downloads/Sonic/E306-PS3-Sonic-Gameplay-720P.wmv

[benig]

The Wii version of Sonic gives hope to everyone.

[Vandenh]

>The Wii version of Sonic gives hope to everyone.

Not really....

I want a 2D hi-res Sonic. The Wii version will probabbly be mini-game hell.

A Nights Wii version on the other hand....

[PeZ]

BK3 is one of those games I'll have to buy 360 for. The other one is BioShock but (for now) it hits the PC also.

I am one of the few people that thinks that Banjo Kazooie was BETTER than Mario 64.

Borys I'm so with you there!
Too bad this summer is such a finacial disaster for me, since I just got my hands on a n64 with a busted controller, and would just love to buy a new controller and play B&K from start to finish on a real n64.

[Bydo_Empire]

Huh? Where has there been any mention of minigames in Sonic Wild Fire (Wii)? All the videos I've seen show it to be an attempt at a 3d version of the classic Sonics.

The positive preview of Wild Fire give me a little hope, because I really *want* to like a 3d sonic. But from the vids of that and this game, it looks like they're repeating the same basic mistake - a camera that's too close to Sonic and at an angle such that so you can't see the level you're running through. When you're moving that fast, you have to see where you're going.

I recommend Sonic for the DS if you're feeling a longing for the 2d Sonics of yesteryear.

[Worldcrafter]

I fucking hate Zombie-Sega.
How about Zombie-Capcom (http://ww2.capcom.com/deadrising/)? Now that's something I can get behind.

[Worldcrafter]

The positive preview of Wild Fire give me a little hope, because I really *want* to like a 3d sonic. But from the vids of that and this game, it looks like they're repeating the same basic mistake - a camera that's too close to Sonic and at an angle such that so you can't see the level you're running through. When you're moving that fast, you have to see where you're going.
To be fair, the 2D versions of Sonic didn't show you where you were running either. You just had to memorize the level, and refine your reflexes. I'm more intrigued by the Wii's version of Sonic than any other 3D Sonic I've seen/played. At least they're limiting the gameplay to 2 dimmensions, just different dimmensions than we're used to.
I recommend Sonic for the DS if you're feeling a longing for the 2d Sonics of yesteryear.
Agreed, I really like the 3D graphics on 2D gameplay that we've had with both Sonic DS and NSMB. I just wish they'd stop with the cut scenes in the Sonic games. They're almost painful to watch.

[Wyrm]

Sonic was done when they added a 'story' to a game that never needed one in the first place. That was what made it so great originally. Just like Mario, there's never any BS. Just do what you have to do, and the gameplay backs it up. Then, Sega felt like they needed adventure levels. Next, a punk rock Hedgehog. Finally, a telekenetic one, and probably twice the number of adventure levels. Fuck Sega for ruining what could have been a really cool franchise on the Next-gen platforms.

[AniAko]

God I wish they would just remake the 4 main genesis titles, with sharp cel-shading, a re-done soundtrack (Same tunes, but high quality instruments), and the same 2d gameplay. This shit just does not do it for me.

They did that in Sonic Rush for the DS. In my opinion, the best sonic since sonic 3. It has that SPEED, most modern titles lack. I don't want to be flying around the screen during a cut scene, I want to be flying around the screen ALWAYS. Rush really is a good title. Has a second character with similar speed to Sonic's. They even did well with the boss battles, creating a 2.5D fighting environment.

I believe the Sonic title for the Wii seems to be more aligned with massive speed game-play, than the other platformers.

[DriveALW]

Played this at E3 a bit. The main problem was, of course, the camera. Like the other 3D sonics, they try to compensate by giving you a homing attack, but the camera still gets stuck under platforms, etc. Graphics were pretty nice, though. Hoping the Wii Sonic plays better than this version.

[agentgray]

I figured thecrazyd was our resident Sonic guru, but then I realized we're reading a press release for another site. Oooops.

I agree with Inevitable Winter that Sonic Rush is an amazing title. Very old school and it used the two screen of the DS well.

[SexualChoc]

Well hopefully it will turn out okay. I suppose they have to put new characters in to keep it fresh. But if Sega could make some of the old games in to 3D, it would be awesome.

Hopefully it will be good. We need a good Sonic for Next Gen consoles.

[Mason]

Eh, I've lost interest in this after seeing the E3 footage, where one of the Sega guys keeps getting stuck in the first level because of random BS deaths (even though he clearly has the place memorized). Thanks, but that kind of frustration can be left on the shelf.

[smashp]

yeah.. sega is really messing up a good franchise here. adventure was alright, not a bad first try for 3d sonic games. the 2 biggest problems i think there were in the last gen sonic games were a) the technology couldn't handle sonic going as fast as he did in the classic games in 3d. but with the next gen tech, they can do that. and b) too many lackluster characters introduced. you dont need to add new characters to keep a good series going strong. just new ideas. look at mario... have they added a new character since yoshi? that was 15 years ago.. and he's still going strong. knuckles was a great addition sure.. and i dont really mind the cast that was in the advance games. but really... silver the hedgehog? shadow isn't that cool to me.. but im 23... apparently.. he goes over really well with the kids. sega should take a page from nintendo's book and make a new sonic the hedgehog. nsmb is one of the best platformers out there.. oh well. it really sucks that since sega stopped making consoles to focus on games... they haven't really done anything. hmm. stupid.

[jeffbax]

God I wish they would just remake the 4 main genesis titles, with sharp cel-shading, a re-done soundtrack (Same tunes, but high quality instruments), and the same 2d gameplay. This shit just does not do it for me.
While I would love that *so* much, I'm still looking forward to this, I'm a Sonic whore :o
The Wii version of Sonic gives hope to everyone.
No, it doesn't. People I know who have played it at E3 say that while its fun and going to be a unique game, that the 360/PS3 version is the more "real" Sonic.

Wild Fire is more like a racing title they say than an exploration based Sonic game. Just running on a rail to the end vs the multiple paths that Sonic games have always been famous for.

[AniAko]

yeah.. sega is really messing up a good franchise here. adventure was alright, not a bad first try for 3d sonic games. the 2 biggest problems i think there were in the last gen sonic games were a) the technology couldn't handle sonic going as fast as he did in the classic games in 3d. but with the next gen tech, they can do that. and b) too many lackluster characters introduced. you dont need to add new characters to keep a good series going strong. just new ideas. look at mario... have they added a new character since yoshi? that was 15 years ago.. and he's still going strong. knuckles was a great addition sure.. and i dont really mind the cast that was in the advance games. but really... silver the hedgehog? shadow isn't that cool to me.. but im 23... apparently.. he goes over really well with the kids. sega should take a page from nintendo's book and make a new sonic the hedgehog. nsmb is one of the best platformers out there.. oh well. it really sucks that since sega stopped making consoles to focus on games... they haven't really done anything. hmm. stupid.

2D to 3D. What went wrong?

First off, they turned if from a half-platformer-half-uniracers type game into a full fledged platformer with blazing cut scenes intermixed in the game. They need to abandon that model of gameplay. Maybe not totally, but the sense of speed should be at the user's control. I seriously believe they can save this franshise, if they can bring up the furiously fast gameplay.

The levels. I played the 1st two Sonics for the DC. I don't remember very many "exciting" levels. There were moments, but no whole level seemed to captivate me. Fast gameplay quickly turned into slow boring platforms where you attack some baddies and then take off again. I remember rolling up and down hills, timing jumps to hit speed boosts, and ramps correctly, all the while killing baddies, and watching cute fuzzy animals pop out all over my screen as I wreaked havoc at blazing speeds. The level designs of today's Sonic titles only seem to tackle one thing at a time. Either you're running fast, or you're fighting. Moreover, where's the rolling hills filled with loops and halfpipes you can run through, then back through to do it again to get those last few rings? Where's the seceret platforms suspended high in the sky you need a GOOD running start to reach? Where's the
hidden paths, and multiple paths for that matter to a single ending? Sonic games have taken their linear gameplay and forced it into a 3D realm, which can account for a lot of the issues I have with them.

Make the platformer open ended, like 720 degrees, GTA or Mario64. make it so you can run anywhere and do ANYTHING at any time. YOU Create your path to the end. Fill an (semi) open world with halfpipes, loops, hills, springs and ramps that lead to rings that seem IMPOSSIBLE to get, but people will try anyways, with each one accomplishing it their own way. I don't care for over dramatic cut-scenes and storylines. Make it so all Sonic has to do is... save tails! That's it! Then concentrate on making the game fun. There seems to be a REAL disconnect, b/w the Sonic Team's understanding of 3D platforming and 2D. Hit the drawing boards again guys. Ensure you use NONE of your existing ideas, and you will come up with something brilliant


While I would love that *so* much, I'm still looking forward to this, I'm a Sonic whore :o

So am I, but I expect more than re-hashed versions of previous games with new features