SEGA trying to reinvigorate Sonic with Sonic Forces
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 41 Comments
SEGA is looking to reinvigorate the Sonic franchise with Sonic Forces, according to product manager Jim Dyer.
Twinfinite asked Dyer in a recent interview if SEGA views Sonic Mania is a ways of rebuilding interest in the series prior to Sonic Forces’ launch. To that, Dyer said “Sonic Mania is for the fans” while Sonic Forces “is a Sonic game for everyone.”
Additionally, Sonic Forces “is a broader game, a different sort of Sonic than what we’ve done before.” SEGA isn’t necessarily trying to make the Blue Blur relevant, as it’s more about having “flagship IP, this brand powerhouse that SEGA wants to get back to what it should be.”
Read Dyer’s full comments on Sonic Forces below.
More: interview, Jim Dyer, SEGA, Sonic Forces
Project manager says Sonic Mania physical edition is something SEGA “would love to do”
Posted on 7 years ago by Zack in Switch | 4 Comments
It looks like SEGA is considering releasing a physical edition for Sonic Mania, according to SEGA Product Manager Jim Dyer. While it’s not confirmed yet, the positive feedback received at SXSW for the idea seems to have helped sway SEGA towards a physical release.
From an interview on Twinfinite.com, Dyer had this to say on the possibility of a physical version of Sonic Mania:
“We would love to do one. We want the community to know that we are listening, and at SXSW they suggested a lot of interest in us following through with a physical release. But we’re also aware that audience approves of anything Sonic related, so while we are listening and it is something we’d like to do, at this stage we are going to see how it goes.”
As Sonic Mania is releasing on the Switch as well, this would obviously mean that Switch owners would be able to get their hands on a physical release as well. Only time will tell at this point.
More: Headcannon, Jim Dyer, PagodaWest Games, SEGA, Sonic Mania, Tantalus
Former SEGA America CEO on Japan headquarters resenting original changes to Sonic
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 9 Comments
Sonic the Hedgehog wasn’t always the character that we know of today. Originally, series artist Naoto Ohshima came up with a design and concept that was more dark and aggressive.
SEGA America ended up pushing for a change over concerns about Sonic being unable to connect with a global audience. Because of this, Sonic lost his fangs, his girlfriend Madonna, and his band. However, SEGA Japan was apparently dissatisfied with Sonic’s updated design and pushed back when possible.
Speaking with Polygon,
“[I] think they resented the fact that we changed him from being aggressive, and having fangs and [a] very sharp personality – and to some degree a menacing personality – to being soft and friendly. I think they resented that. But I don’t know [if] I’d carry it so far as to why they didn’t do the things that should have been done. I think it might have been part of it, however.”
More: interview, SEGA, Sonic the Hedgehog, Tom Kalinske
Side-characters are present in Sonic Forces, but won’t be playable
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 10 Comments
The first gameplay video for Sonic Forces issued this week offered about 30 seconds of footage from one of the game’s levels. However, Game Informer was given an extended look.
The site says that characters from the Sonic series will be present, but they won’t be playable. In the first stage SEGA has shown, you’ll hear side-characters such as Knuckles, Amy, and members of the Chaotix communicate with Sonic via radio. They’ll basically be reporting on what they’re seeing during the assault.
The only other notable detail from Game Informer’s preview is that, at one point in the stage, “Sonic lands on a platform and the camera shifts to a side-perspective to deliver the modern gameplay with a side-scrolling twist that we’ve seen in prior games.” Keep in mind that this is separate from the Classic Sonic levels.
More: SEGA, Sonic Forces
Sonic Mania – key art, Hard-Boiled Heavies bosses tease
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Images, Switch | 6 Comments
SEGA has followed up on news shared at its Sonic SXSW panel yesterday with a couple of new images for Sonic Mania.
First, shown above, is an official look at one of the new art pieces that debuted. It looks like a boxart image, but SEGA is simply calling it “key art”.
Below is an image teasing the Hard-Boiled Heavies bosses in Sonic Mania with a silhouette. Only one has been revealed thus far – that being Heavy Gunner.
Source: SEGA PR
More: Headcannon, PagodaWest Games, SEGA, Sonic Mania, Tantalus
Sonic Forces debut gameplay (direct-feed)
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Switch, Videos | 26 Comments
SEGA finally gave fans a first look at gameplay from Sonic Forces during a panel at SXSW yesterday. What we had at the time was an off-screen look, but an official video has now been published. Have a look at the official direct-feed upload below.
More: SEGA, Sonic Forces, top
Sonic Mania poster features new art
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Images, Switch | 2 Comments
At SXSW, SEGA had a poster on hand for Sonic Mania featuring brand new art of the game. Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles are all present in the image. Have a look at it above.
More: Headcannon, PagodaWest Games, SEGA, Sonic Mania, Tantalus
Shun Nakamura is the producer of Sonic Forces
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 7 Comments
On his personal Twitter page, SEGA’s Shun Nakamura announced that he is the producer of Sonic Forces. Let’s talk about his previous roles at the company.
Most will likely attach Nakamura to the very disappointing Sonic the Hedgehog title from 2006, as he was the game’s director. He’s done much more than that, however. Nakamura was also the director of Samba de Amigo, Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure, and Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg. Nakamura was involved with a number of previous Sonic games as well.
More: SEGA, Shun Nakamura, Sonic Forces
Sonic Forces main theme (instrumental version)
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Switch, Videos | 7 Comments
At the SXSW Sonic panel, SEGA debuted the first music from Sonic Forces by issuing the game’s main theme. What we have below is the instrumental version as composed by Tomoya Ohtani. In the final version, vocals will be added.
More: Project Sonic 2017, SEGA
Sonic Forces – three gameplay styles, new engine, more
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 79 Comments
It’s been a long wait for actual details on Sonic Forces, formally known as Project Sonic 2017. SEGA finally lifted the curtain at a SXSW panel today by sharing a bit of gameplay and details.
Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka called Sonic Forces an “evolution of Sonic Colors and Sonic Generations”. New concepts will be included. Three unique gameplay styles are planned, one of which was shown in the footage – modern Sonic.
