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So that's... none of you. Well done.
Sega need to learn what made Sonic great in the first place - running f*cking fast - and get rid of all the gimmicks. No lengthy dialogue sequences, no stupid side quests, no annoying secondary characters. Just foot-blisteringly fast pacing and interesting, fun environments to run around. Am I the only one who thinks that Sonic games only work in 2D? Maybe SEGA could make a brand new Sonic sidescroller for LIVE and/or PSN? I know I would definitely buy that one!
Mind you, I thought the Sonic game on the Wii was pretty decent. I wouldn't mind an HD version of that game, minus the fiddly controls. I bought this game yesterday. Playing as Sonic is sooooo ****ing awesome it almost brought a tear to my eye. Playing as the Werehog...well...it isn't utter shite but it's not sonic. You had me at 7.3 Let's face it, Sonic will never get any better than the first level of the first Sonic game... A better review score than Prince of Persia somehow. So the new Sonic is better than the new PoP? Never saw that coming. Gonna pick this up when the PS3 version hits anyhow. I've made a firm decision not to buy another Sonic game until they get their head around what it is that makes a good Sonic game. Don't Sega read reviews, forums etc...?
I'm almost glad they made a game that is so clearly spilt between good and bad gameplay, because its probably the only way Sega will get it through their thick heads what people really love about Sonic.
Its almost as though they believe they need to add something to the formula because modern gamers demand so much more from games. But the likes of Geometry Wars prove you can have a massive success on your hands with stripped-down classic gameplay. Its very telling by Sega's shakey success recently that they don't appreciate this at all.
If Sega really must insist on cramming gimmicks into Sonic games, could they not release standard no-fuss platform games for the most part and limit these experiments to spin-off games? I'm sure the difference in sales figures would show which route was the winning one.
Just in case you read this Sega, allow me to spell out the message the whole gaming community is hoping you'll hear...
TRADITIONAL SONIC PLATFORMING ACTION = BRILLIANT ANYTHING ELSE INVOLVING SONIC = BAD personally i think the only way they can make a good sonic game with new elements is to put him in an open world. complete freedom to run where you want at stupid speeds across hundreds of miles of rings spikes and loops. I have always felt that Sonic should stay 2D if they are going for blistering speed and platforming the two together do not make decent 3D games in my opinion.
I must also say I thought the Wii Sonic sucked too but again just my opinion. Now that's a game I would love to play!
Oh and no humans please...for the love of god no humans! :evil: They're simply not bothered about what made Sonic great back in the day, simply sales.
I would usually suggest giving up waiting for a proper good sonic title, but the 2d bits in this one keeps the dream alive. Yay :D As bad as the werehog combat sections are, it is only in these sections where actual platforming takes place.
The CVG reviewer is correct in that the jumping mechanics are not slick enough. However, I found the challenge of scaling buildings and assault course style platforming really enjoyable.
The stretchy arms feature creates a new element to this platforming but unfortunately the grab button is nowhere near responsive enough and ultimately it's a game element that I'd expect in a different character, not Sonic.
As I play the night time levels I keep thinking that they should have done the following:
- use normal sonic
- remove combat involving fists, only jumping on heads in the classic style
- keep slower levels that involve actual 3D platforming and make them fun and challening, and in doing so justify why Sonic has to be slow in these sections without turning him into a completely different character
- use a countdown clock or something visible that shows you will die if you don't reach the next lamppost within 2 mins. Capcom's Lost Planet made you collect energy as it depleted itself in a clock countdown style and it really ups the intensity of the game. Sonic should be equally intense, especially in slower speed platforming sections!
I can see exactly why certain creative decisions were made by Sonic Team and the gameplay elements they created.
I can also see exactly why some of them didn't work.
One of the most frustrating things is the lack of a Sonic universe. Transformers have cybertron, Mario has his planets, and now we're being made to play Sonic in our world.
I don't pay £39.99 to experience my world. I want Sonics!
I want the world that we saw in Sonic 1, 2 and 3 on the Megadrive. The Manga-style Robotnik-doctored universe we all enjoyed.
The creative director at Sega Team is making very basic errors about one of the most recognisable characters in gaming.
Also, the fast daytime sections are far from perfect. Yes, they're fun but they're also too fast. The Wii daytime sections play better than the xbox360/PS3 versions but you retain some degree of control even at top speed.
Next gen versions do not retain any sense of control at top speed. You may as well be watching a video of Sonic half of the time.
Also, I want a cool bonus level when I finish a level with 50 rings or more. Bring that back please and figure out how to make it work.
If anyone from SEGA wants a free thesis on how to make Sonic great again, drop me a line.
Stop listening to focus groups and market research. Just make a great game and the younger demographic you try so hard to pander to can enjoy a great game along with the rest of us. First of all, it's obvious sega had a "great" idea about a new game but didn't know how people would react to it, so they superglued it to what sounds like a half decent sonic game in an attempt to get it into a mainstream idea.
Sega, does not realise that there was no blistering speed in the originals, it was fast yes, but it included plenty of back tracking to find rings to use to get a chaos emerald, or finding hidden item boxes. If sonic runs too fast there is no chance of putting those into a game. Also, there was plenty of mario style jumping, having not played this game i cannot comment on it's inclusion here but in adventure/Secret rings it is all light dashing or homing attacking across ledges.
Listen to your fans sega, surprisingly, the people who buy the games know what they want. And this does not sound like it. I wouldn't go purely off this review (Gamespot, by contrast, have given this an appalling 3.5 out of 10 and its Metacritic is just 62).
But for those of you still interested in giving it a try - Gamestation are selling it for £19.99 for the next week. But they're also selling Fable 2 and Fallout 3 for £19.99, both of which are far better games than this. I just know the werehog bits will suck, and the sonic bits will be uncontrollably fast.
No thanks! Yeah the werehog bits are a bit shitty but not that bad. That doesnt matter tho cuz the sonic bits are awesome xx |