Sonic Unleashed?

[G.Silver]

Man, look at those chompers.

[FlashTHD]

As...peculiar as Oshima looks, Iizuka's getting uglier by the interview. This is him as of last year:

oh my god it's not even human

iizukaeeek.jpg (34.39 KiB) Viewed 11071 times

[UCHU]

It's like he's slowly mutating into a squirrel.

[gr4yJ4Y]

Japanese dental plans: worse than Great Britian's?

[j-man]

Fuck off. Google "NHS" and learn something.

[j-man]

So, I guess the answer to your question is "yes". Still, fuck off.

[Baba O'Riley]

Fuck off. Google "NHS" and learn something.

Your society produces superbugs in an otherwise noble attempt to help the poor?

[Delphine]

Fuck off. Google "NHS" and learn something.

What does the National Honor Society have to do with this?

[j-man]

THATS IT IM LEAVING THE FORUM FOR SERIOUS

[P.P.A.]

NO WAIT THERE'LL BE A LOT OF BITCHING ABOUT SONIC & THE TALKING SWORD (TM) YOU CAN'T MISS OUT ON THAT

[j-man]

The sword talks?

[Shadow Hog]

Yeah, that'd been confirmed for a while.

[Baba O'Riley]

The sword talks?

Frankly, I'd be shocked if it didn't. Sentient weaponry has always been the order of the day as far as kewl games go. I'm actually shocked the Chaos Emeralds don't have names and 'wacky' personalities by now.

[Zeta]

Hush! You just gave them ideas!

[MiraiTails]

Navi/Omochao/Chip times 7. Oh God.

[Baba O'Riley]

Hush! You just gave them ideas!

I've always had a unique ability to think like a lazy game developer.

My only hope is that a high minded story writer doesn't get on board of the next Sonic game (unlikely, I know) and try and explain the rings as a manifestation of ancient power, or magical yeti shit, or what have you. I prefer it just be a slightly quaint form of currency that doubles as a protective coat for whoever may pick it up.

[DackAttac]

Exactly. I'll never understand why they always feel the need to give the stuff we all accepted back in the Genesis years as normal some bizarre origin story so it can "make sense", while they come up with plots for these games that don't know the meaning of "sense".

[Segaholic2]

Frankly, I'd be shocked if it didn't. Sentient weaponry has always been the order of the day as far as kewl games go. I'm actually shocked the Chaos Emeralds don't have names and 'wacky' personalities by now.

lol

[j-man]

So I finally got to play this damn game, and it's surprisingly fun. I played through the demo a few times to get a feel for the controls and scope out the scenery, and I had a blast every time. Seems like a few steps in the right direction to me.

Yeah, it's not really news, but I don't own any of these futuristic 'play stations'. I need time to catch up.

[Kogen]

I am really trying to like it, as it does seem like a good attempt compared to before (no aliens, GUN, Shadow, etc), but the bottomless pits are still ruining it for me. The bugs are still there, too, but not as much of an issue this time. Hopefully they can refine this a bit (and slow it down some...), remove that werehog stuff for something better, and get a better level designer.

This engine does seem entirely capable of making something like a 3D Sonic 3/K-type game; that would be a lot more fun.

[Frieza2000]

Exactly. I'll never understand why they always feel the need to give the stuff we all accepted back in the Genesis years as normal some bizarre origin story so it can "make sense", while they come up with plots for these games that don't know the meaning of "sense".

They catch wind of stuff like this. I'm under the impression that the majority of the Sonic fan community is into the story, what with the insane number of fanfics and forum RPGs dedicated to it. But you don't have to be a nerd to be curious; as a kid, long before my descent into this encyclopedic madness, I always hoped that we'd someday learn the story behind the Chaos Emeralds to give us some closure. Back in the Genesis days they were pretty much the only element of plot aside from 'Sonic beats Robotnik'. Ironically, now I'd kind of prefer that they didn't expand any further on it even if they did hire a good writer.

I read that Iizuka is credited under "Level Design Special Thanks" (and here it is at 3:22). Did we ever find out what happened to that guy? Was he demoted to a humiliating position for heading several failed titles in a row, or is he just hiding in the background?

[FlashTHD]

I read that Iizuka is credited under "Level Design Special Thanks" (and here it is at 3:22). Did we ever find out what happened to that guy? Was he demoted to a humiliating position for heading several failed titles in a row, or is he just hiding in the background?

Could be both. The last thing he was significantly involved in, besides NiGHTS 2, was Sonic Rivals 2, and that might've been before SSUSA was folded.

Also take notice that directly beneath Iizuka on that credit is the dreaded Shun Nakamura, and they're the only two under Level Design Special Thanks. Frightening, no? Other interesting credits:

- Akinori Nishiyama as producer, for the 2008 museum page
- Yuji Uekawa, publicity artwork
- Hashimoto was the Hedgehog Engine's technical director
- In general there seems to be lots of outsourcing on this one - wonder how much of it was secretly farmed out to NOWPro?
- Jun Senoue, vocal tracks coordinator
- In the "Game Sound Department", Masaru Setsumaru and Tatsuyuki Maeda under Sound Editors
- Teruhiko Nakagawa and Naofumi Hataya in the sound Special Thanks
- Side note: it's high time someone other than Tomoya Ohtani arrange the rock vocal themes. Endless Possibility was alright but they're all starting to sound like the same damn thing.
- Vocals in Dear My Friend by Brent Cash
- The World Adventure (menu theme that gets tiring in a hurry) performed by the Tokyo Philiharmonic Orchestra - spared no expense there
- Kiyoko Hishimura is to blame for the story
- A "GIRIHURU" designed the human characters
- For the second game in a row, Iizuka is smack at the top of the general Special Thanks. Kazuyuki Hoshino is there too, and Yojiro Ogawa
- How long has Jason Kuo been the lead SoA localization producer now? Since Sonic 3 at least?
- Just for the sake of checking, Ben Andac didn't turn up in the SoE credits. I figured, but now that's out of the way

Finally, is there any rhyme or reason why searching "Sonic Unleashed" or "Sonic World Adventure" at Mobygames turns up nothing?

[Radrappy]

- A "GIRIHURU" designed the human characters

They also designed the ghosts in Night of the Werehog. They actually also do some work for marvel, of all things.

http://gurihiru21.blog11.fc2.com/blog-entry-340.html

[P.P.A.]

I have decided to not buy Unleashed. I've already wasted far too much money and time into this doomed franchise.
Perhaps I'll give it a try when it's down to 30€ or less in a year or something, but even that would still be a stupid move.

[Shadow Hog]

If it means anything, FlashTHD's post seems to have made quite a stir.