Ladies and Gentlemen, Sonic the Hedgehog is Reborn!

[Blue Gale]

EDIT BY NT: So I guess ImageShack got hit a lot pretty fast, and they took the images down already. Here they are again in case you missed them the first time, courtesy the GHZ.

<A HREF="http://ghzforum.nathantsui.com/upload/files/sonic1.jpg" TARGET="_blank"><IMG SRC="http://ghzforum.nathantsui.com/upload/files/sonic1.th.jpg"></A> <A HREF="http://ghzforum.nathantsui.com/upload/files/sonic2.jpg" TARGET="_blank"><IMG SRC="http://ghzforum.nathantsui.com/upload/files/sonic2.th.jpg"></A>
<A HREF="http://ghzforum.nathantsui.com/upload/files/sonic3.jpg" TARGET="_blank"><IMG SRC="http://ghzforum.nathantsui.com/upload/files/sonic3.th.jpg"></A> <A HREF="http://ghzforum.nathantsui.com/upload/files/sonic4.jpg" TARGET="_blank"><IMG SRC="http://ghzforum.nathantsui.com/upload/files/sonic4.th.jpg"></A>

Freakin HOT Graphics: Check.
High Speed Sonic kickin Robot Ass: Check.
Moronic Secondary Characters in Sight: Zero.
Anticipation: HIGH

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/09/08 ... 32842.html

It might not have been the fabled "Segaton," (but hey, what is?) but today's flurry of announcements from Sega will elate devotees of the publisher. Late Thursday PDT, the company took the wraps off two heretofore unknown projects and dated one of its top next-generation titles.

First up was the announcement that yes indeed, there is a next-generation Sonic game in the works. Billed as a "re-invention" of the classic franchise, Sonic the Hedgehog will make its debut on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 sometime during 2006.

Presiding over the game's development will be none other than Yuji Naka, who, along with character designer Naoto Ohshima, created the original Sonic game for the Sega Genesis in 1991. According to Sega, Naka will "create the most intense sensation of speed ever experienced in videogames" with "an innovative combination of art, physics and game design."

"We are proud to re-create our famous friend, Sonic, for a new generation of gamers on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360," said Naka. "With Sonic the Hedgehog, we have gone back to our starting point, more than 15-years ago, to reinvent the attitude and speed that made our hero a legend. The 'rebirth of Sonic' will offer an unparalleled sense of speed that is only possible using the processing power afforded by the new systems."

Sega also had good news for Xbox, GameCube, or PlayStation 2 owners. The company simultaneously announced Sonic Riders, a new title that "integrates extreme sports, high-speed racing and head-to-head battles," will ship in winter 2006 for all three platforms.

However, Sonic Riders' racing won't involve cars, motorcycles, or Wipeout-esque hovercraft. Instead, players will assume the role of one of several characters riding air boards in an international competition which will pit Sonic and his cohorts against the nefarious Dr. Eggman's team, The Band of Thieves: Babylon. The winner of the contest--which will support up to four players--will take home the fabled Chaos Emerald.

[Radrappy]

isn't this just a tech demo?

[Zeta]

I just jizzed myself.

[Esrever]

Well, at least the new game will be pretty!

(Those are shots from the tech demo, which was basically a real time cut scene.)

[Zeta]

He's not carrying an Uzi, not being followed by Tails and Knuckles, and Shadow is nowhere in sight.



That's all I fucking need.

[Kishi]

The 'rebirth of Sonic' will offer an unparalleled sense of speed that is only possible using the processing power afforded by the new systems.

BLAST PROCESSING

[LOUD-TREE]

I'm not buying a fuck'n three-shitty or a penisless 3 for this. I want my sonic on Nintendo if not a Sega console.

[Zeta]

I wouldn't worry. With the Team's history of porting a game to every possible market, I wouldn't expect more than a 10th month wait between PS3/XBOX2 versions and Rev versions.

[LOUD-TREE]

I wouldn't worry. With the Team's history of porting a game to every possible market, I wouldn't expect more than a 10th month wait between PS3/XBOX2 versions and Rev versions.

Excellent.

...

The old Chaos Emerald template better be implemented if they make a Sonic 2 remake. Or I'm go'n into Sega with guns 'a blaze'n.

...

... Or write them a REALLY nasty e-mail.

[Segaholic2]

I'm not buying a fuck'n three-shitty or a penisless 3 for this. I want my sonic on Nintendo if not a Sega console.

Wow, making up derogatory names for the systems you don't like is real clever.

Could we get a different mirror for these screenshots? The second one doesn't work.

[Double-S-]

These are from the closed door E3 video. Which you can find by googling "Sega E3 next level video" or something like that. Which also contained preview footage of some mech game called Chrome Hounds, Virtua Fighter 5, Afterburner, and House of the Dead 4.

[LOUD-TREE]

I'm not buying a fuck'n three-shitty or a penisless 3 for this. I want my sonic on Nintendo if not a Sega console.

Wow, making up derogatory names for the systems you don't like is real clever. :roll:

Could we get a different mirror for these screenshots? The second one doesn't work.

Don't be an ass. -_-;;

[Segaholic2]

Never mind, I found them myself.

Edited the original post with them.

[plasticwingsband]

ass

What? Where!?

[big_smile]

According to IGN, Naoto Ohshima will be providing 'special assistance' for the new game (Although, I'm guessing that is just a misunderstanding on IGN's part).

[Nakasan_UKG]

Impressed that Naoto Oshima is working with them, shows they "mean business" with this sonic game. But also upset that everywhere I go, pretty much the only thing people seem to think sonic is about is speed. Its not. Racing games are about speed and control. Sonics about being fast certainly, but alot more on top. I just hope that Naka has said it to look "cool", and really is planning something more than pressing up on the control pad.

[Gaz]

Looks promising. I guess time will tell whether this turns out any good.

[Popcorn]

I'm kind of confused by these screens. It looks good, graphically at least, but are these actually taken from the real thing or are they meant to be 'representative'? I realise they were taken from, or are very similar to, the old tech demo, but was that tech demo in any way real, or what? Is this actually anything like the game we'll end up playing? It doesn't even appear to have a name yet.

I've seen a few people on message boards mumble something about finding out more on the 16th of this month. Has anyone else heard anything else like that?

[Crazy Penguin]

Wow, Naka and Ohshima together again. This should be interesting to say the very least.

This is going to be the biggest Sonic game since Sonic Adventure. And the series definitely needs a kick in the ass.

The original Sonic Adventure provided a top notch relaunch to the Sonic franchise. Then Sega managed to fuck it up by growing complacent and following it up with subpar games (Sonic Shuffle, Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Advance 1-3, Sonic Battle, Sonic Heroes etc).

Let's hope that Sega don't make that mistake again.

[Owen Axel]

I'm kind of confused by these screens. It looks good, graphically at least, but are these actually taken from the real thing or are they meant to be 'representative'? I realise they were taken from, or are very similar to, the old tech demo, but was that tech demo in any way real, or what? Is this actually anything like the game we'll end up playing? It doesn't even appear to have a name yet.

I've seen a few people on message boards mumble something about finding out more on the 16th of this month. Has anyone else heard anything else like that?

Real-time cutscene equals not an FMV, doesn't it?

[Koosh Koosh!]

If Ohshima is back, I'm sold. However, he isn't going to be back at all (like big_smile, I think IGN have misunderstood the quoted statement), but let me DROWN IN MY FANTASY.

Seriously though, I'm... intrigued. The realistic environments annoy me, but... still, you know. Intrigued!!

[Kishi]

And how about those Swatbots?

[Popcorn]

I'm kind of confused by these screens. It looks good, graphically at least, but are these actually taken from the real thing or are they meant to be 'representative'? I realise they were taken from, or are very similar to, the old tech demo, but was that tech demo in any way real, or what? Is this actually anything like the game we'll end up playing? It doesn't even appear to have a name yet.

I've seen a few people on message boards mumble something about finding out more on the 16th of this month. Has anyone else heard anything else like that?

Real-time cutscene equals not an FMV, doesn't it?

It may be generated in real-time, but that doesn't mean this'll end up looking anything like what we're playing. For all we know they're actually making Sonic Heroes 2 and whipped up that trailer as a demonstration of the kind of thing they're capable of doing.

[Popcorn]

Oh, and UK Resistance got a hold of some super-high resolution screenshots if anyone wants a look.

[Professor Machenstein]

The original Sonic Adventure provided a top notch relaunch to the Sonic franchise. Then Sega managed to fuck it up by growing complacent and following it up with subpar games (Sonic Shuffle, Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Advance 1-3, Sonic Battle, Sonic Heroes etc).

Alright, that's it. I'm sorry, but I must ask, what's everyone's problem with Sonic Adventure 2? Shut up, treasure-hunting was in SA1 too. When I boot up a Sonic game, all I play are the speed stages using Trail Mode/Level Select. I don't recall a thing about the shooting/treasure-hunting/fishing stages. So only playing the speed stages of SA2, what's the problem? Oh, and don't say "linear level design". As I recall, everyone I talk to likes Final Rush/Chase, which are possibly the most linear levels in the game.