Nintendo Magazine WildFire article: Yojiro Interview

Post by **big_smile** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 6:21 am

The latest issue of UK publication Nintendo Official Magazine includes a 6 page feature on Sonic Wildfire.

Despite being billed as an Ã¢â‚¬Ëœexclusive previewÃ¢â‚¬â„¢, few new details are revealed in the article. It does however contain an interview with director Ogawa Yojiro and a small selection of new screenshots.

Yojiro, who previously worked on Gems Collection and Kimishine mostly regurgitates the contents of previous press releases in the interview. He does, however, reveal that he is planning a new Wii game which will take Ã¢â‚¬Å“full advantage of theÃ¢â‚¬Â¦ controllerÃ¢â‚¬ï¿¾. Suggesting that new game may not be connected to Sonic, he describes it as Ã¢â‚¬Å“whole new title that no one has ever seenÃ¢â‚¬ï¿¾. He hopes to start working on the mysterious project after completing WildFire.

Moving back to the present, Yojiro states that the story of WildFire will be different from existing games. Amusingly, he then hints that Eggman may not be the villain, which has been a trend in recent games.

The article details the new control system. Those worried that the title may be too linear will be pleased learn that Sonic is able to backtrack.

Cover
Page 1
Page 2 (contains image from cover)
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6

James McGeachie · Post by **James McGeachie** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 6:43 am

Game is starting to sound slightly more interesting. I think I'll be kind of happy if Eggman isn't in it, it seems like it'd make more sense for them to have someone fresh anyway what with the ridiculously odd story concept and all.

BlazeHedgehog · Post by **BlazeHedgehog** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 6:44 am

This DOES look a lot prettier than the E3 build did. Not quite a Sonic 2k6 level of detail, but far and away much, much better than any Sonic game from the GC/PS2/Xbox generation.

I think I might actually be getting kind of excited.

James McGeachie · Post by **James McGeachie** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 7:07 am

BlazeHedgehog wrote:This DOES look a lot prettier than the E3 build did. Not quite a Sonic 2k6 level of detail, but far and away much, much better than any Sonic game from the GC/PS2/Xbox generation.

I think I might actually be getting kind of excited.

This pretty clearly IS the E3 build, it's the exact same segments and looks identical, it's clear they've only played through the E3 demo as well. They just obviously used good shots of the game which look significantly better when shrunk down into small magazine images.

b_boult · Post by **b_boult** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 7:42 am

This game does look really pretty in some areas, especially the water areas with its greenery and lighting. I'm still a little concerned about the method of control though.

During E3 I saw numerous videos and although you could say its because the player wasnt used to the method of control, there were many instances where Sonic moved to the left or right in an exaggerated fashion. I didn't think a lot of it really until I saw a video last night when Sonic had to navigate his way across a narrow bridge and the guy couldnt do it and fell into the water because he jerked to the right. Judging from this you must have to hold the controller incredibly still with really subtle movements to achieve a successful run and I don't like the rigidness of that at all.

BlazeHedgehog · Post by **BlazeHedgehog** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 8:50 am

James McGeachie wrote:
BlazeHedgehog wrote:This DOES look a lot prettier than the E3 build did. Not quite a Sonic 2k6 level of detail, but far and away much, much better than any Sonic game from the GC/PS2/Xbox generation.

I think I might actually be getting kind of excited.
This pretty clearly IS the E3 build, it's the exact same segments and looks identical, it's clear they've only played through the E3 demo as well. They just obviously used good shots of the game which look significantly better when shrunk down into small magazine images.

The segments look the same, but the graphics look better, somehow. More polished. Sonic looks smoother.

Post by **Delphine** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 10:20 am

BlazeHedgehog wrote:The segments look the same, but the graphics look better, somehow. More polished. Sonic looks smoother.

James McGeachie wrote:They just obviously used good shots of the game which look significantly better when shrunk down into small magazine images.

BlazeHedgehog · Post by **BlazeHedgehog** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 10:38 am

Yeah. "Shrunk down". The size these scans are, they aren't really that shrunk down...

Double-S- · Post by **Double-S-** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 10:57 am

Are you being sarcastic? Because you're pretty wrong.

The controls and entire concept (essentially an on-rails Sonic game) still look terrible. As in, like poo.

Frieza2000 · Post by **Frieza2000** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 12:21 pm

It's pretty much the same kind of games we have now but with the unnecessary freedom stripped away. Heroes is pretty much on rails. All that the ability to easily stop and look around gives you is a look at the narrow platform around you. There's nothing to <i>do</i> with that freedom of movement. Wildfire just appears to be a streamlined version of the obstacle course style gameplay we've had since SA2.

(...)toolazytologin · Post by **(...)toolazytologin** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 2:21 pm

The controls and entire concept (essentially an on-rails Sonic game) still look terrible. As in, like poo.

Yeah I don't get it either. But that said, EVERYONE who has played the next gen Sonic games favours Wild Fire over Sonic2006. Maybe it plays better than it sounds?

Forza Johnman · Post by **Forza Johnman** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 2:53 pm

Maybe its because Wild Fire ignores holding up on the anolog stick, seeing as Sonic runs automatically, So you just concentate on reacting to the environment.

Or maybe its just a well put together Wii demo title. So when compared to Sonic 2K6 which was a bit dodgy apparently, Wild Fire won.

Post by **Popcorn** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 3:15 pm

I could not care less about this game.

Post by **G.Silver** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 3:26 pm

I could.

Post by **Popcorn** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 5:24 pm

But why. But WHY! It's all on rails and it's going to have balls controls!

Light Speed · Post by **Light Speed** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 6:51 pm

In other news, that new Portal gun looks pretty badass. It's like it took Prey's clever idea and shit all over it with goodness. Also I'm quite excited that all the HL2's are coming to the 360. Now I won't really have an excuse not to play it.

Shadow Hog · Post by **Shadow Hog** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 8:12 pm

Damn straight. Portal (see <a href="http://www.xboxyde.com/news_3186_en.html">trailer</a>) looks awesome, no more, no less. Much cooler than that Narbacular Drop thing it's a pseudo-sequel to, mostly because, in that program, there's a rendering error with the portals on my computer, making objects further away from me get drawn last - or in front of what should be in front, making things look VERY weird.

I wonder if the name of that gun has any particular meaning. I mean, it's the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device... ASHPD... A. SHPD...

Maybe it's just a passing HL:Op4 reference, I dunno.

Post by **G.Silver** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 11:16 pm

Popcorn wrote:But why. But WHY! It's all on rails and it's going to have balls controls!

I haven't seen anything to indicate balls controls, and I think you might be familiar with my friends Rez, Panzer Dragoon, Sin & Punishment, and Outrun 2. Rails are hot!

Post by **Green Gibbon!** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 12:03 am

I'm kind of with Popcorn. The impression I get is overblown tech demo. It strikes me as a very lazy use of the unique controller and an altogether limited premise.

Gaz · Post by **Gaz** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:57 am

I still think Wild Fire looks better than the 360/PS3 Sonic game but I can't see it being anything more than a fun but shallow arcade-style game. That said I don't really think there's anything wrong with that. I recently bought Outrun 2006: Coast 2 Coast and it's one of the most fun games I've played in ages yet when it comes down to it it's a fairly shallow game. If done right I can see Wild Fire working in a similar way.

Post by **Popcorn** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 7:04 am

Light Speed wrote:In other news, that new Portal gun looks pretty badass. It's like it took Prey's clever idea and shit all over it with goodness. Also I'm quite excited that all the HL2's are coming to the 360. Now I won't really have an excuse not to play it.

Portal really does look strikingly good. Valve are rivalled only by the Ico guys in the 'best developer currently operating' stakes, I think.

Post by **Green Gibbon!** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 12:00 pm

It's not even really the simplicity of Wild Fire that bothers me, I just think it's a half-baked idea. Maneuvering a character through a fixed platformer obstacle course by wiggling the controller around does not sound like fun to me, at least not once the initial novelty wears off (and it may not even have that unless it happens to be the very first Wii game you play).

There's quite a bit on the Wii that's caught my eye but Sonic isn't among them.

Post by **Popcorn** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 12:21 pm

Agreed. I don't much fancy the ambiguity of the control mechanism in dealing with something as precise as a platform game. But we'll see!

(...)toolazytologin · Post by **(...)toolazytologin** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:35 pm

I can't see it being anything more than a fun but shallow arcade-style game

Shallow arcade games are what Sega does best! ;)

Tsuyoshi-kun · Post by **Tsuyoshi-kun** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 9:22 am

Virtua Fighter would not count as shallow. It has one of the most, if not THE most, deepest, most complicated fighting systems in the entire genre.