BioWare Talks Sonic Chronicles

[Dr.Finger]

Some call BioWare's current task herculean: making a good, modern Sonic the Hedgehog game. Complicating matters even more is the transition from action/platformer to full blown RPG. But even though their task is daunting, BioWare remains confident. Gamespot spoke to BioWare art director Joel MacMillan (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6197173.html?part=rss&tag=gs_news&subj=6197173) about some of the challenges faces while making Sonic Chronicles for the Nintendo DS. GS AU: Tell us about the combat system. From what we've seen so far, it's a mix of turn-based with some real-time action.
JM: That’s correct. Combat’s been engineered to play out as ‘Rounds’, to help illustrate a feeling of speed. To accentuate that, there’s a Realtime Button Input system we have that coincides with combat. During the team’s Power Moves, the player will have to successfully accomplish a small Button and Stylus sequence in order to deliver a maximum damage attack. It’s actually a lot of fun--as the player levels up their power moves, the Realtime Button Input gets more difficult. It’s a good way to keep the player on their toes.
--
GS AU: How long will the single-player experience last? Do you have any plans for multiplayer?
JM: There will be some multiplayer ‘trading’ to take advantage of. For the full single-player gameplay experience, you can expect about 20–25 hours.

Is it odd that I still find the idea of Sonic on a Nintendo system bizarre? I know it's been happening for years and years at this point, but still.

[Wingleton]

Is it odd that I still find the idea of Sonic on a Nintendo system bizarre? I know it's been happening for years and years at this point, but still.
[/I]

Not at all. I still feel the same way.

[TazzFTW]

I played a little of this at PAX, and surprisingly enjoyed it. Combat was interesting, and relied heavily on the touch screen for timed-based special attacks. Best of all, Eggman is no more, Dr. Robotnik is back as his name.

[protocol_image]

I find it odd that a few years ago, the mention of quick stylus input sounded exciting to me. Nowadays, I cringe. Hopefully they are doing it well.....like the Kirby Canvas Curse, and not like Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow.

[Silverbaine]

"I played a little of this at PAX, and surprisingly enjoyed it. Combat was interesting, and relied heavily on the touch screen for timed-based special attacks. Best of all, Eggman is no more, Dr. Robotnik is back as his name."

seems liek an interesting twist here.
im glad they decided to keep Dr. Robotnik, I hated the name Eggman.

[protocol_image]

Is it odd that I still find the idea of Sonic on a Nintendo system bizarre? I know it's been happening for years and years at this point, but still.


Well the cold war ended many years before Sonic and Mario got chummy....and tons of people still don't trust those pinko commie bastards...

I'm not one of those people, though. :D

[Sandman]

So it's a Bioware Sonic RPG on the DS and the only part of that equation that you find odd is that it's on a Nintendo system?

[LongStepMantis]

Not at all. I still feel the same way.

Coming up, Mario and Sonic were like the ultimate enemies, that never fought. Especially during the heyday of the SNES/Genesis war.

So no, you guys are hardly alone.

[VTMarik]

So wait, their idea of real-time combat is a QTE button/stylus combination to achieve maximum damage ala Shadow Hearts' Judgment Ring system?

Well, there go my high hopes.

[Froggy]

So it's a Bioware Sonic RPG on the DS and the only part of that equation that you find odd is that it's on a Nintendo system?

Touche. Yeah, the gaming industry has hosted some strange bedfellows as of recent. Maybe the "Bitter Rivalries" are just an illusion to spur more sales. Like the gang wars in the 90s.

Next week I'll be talking about the moon landings and showing you how to make your own tinfoil hat to repel aliens and government mind-control.

[archon]

I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the idea that Sonic and Mario have actually been in the same game... and FOUGHT.

[LongStepMantis]

I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the idea that Sonic and Mario have actually been in the same game... and FOUGHT.

First rule of brawl...you don't talk about brawl. ;)

[aries100]

The reason for this is quite simply that the good doctors of Bioware (ray & greg) are great Sonic fans (I mean who knew?). Some time ago they ran into the head of Sega (or sony?) and they gott to talking. And now we have a Sonic RPG on the Nintendo DS...

The combat I've seen in the trailers for this game seemet to be more (true) turnbased than realtime...