All-new 2D Sonic rolling out in 2010

[(...)]

There are now Nintendo Power scans, including an interview with Iizuka on the third and fourth pages:

Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4

That preview is encouraging, especially page 2.

Apparently, it DOESN'T play like Rush, the boss stage isn't a full-on rehash of Sonic 1, and the level design isn't completely linear!

[G.Silver]

Their description of the boss encounter (and the screen shot that clearly shows the wrecking ball planted in the ground) gives me a lot of confidence. Of course, that's because it sounds exactly like the top half of what I was talking about earlier.

[Malchik]

The only thing that still has me a bit weary is some of the graphics. They just look thrown together.

I think I'm just hoping for too much.

[K2J]

There's a green Meleon shooting a fireball from within a wall in that last page.

That was actually in the leaked footage, but it was a blink-and-miss-it moment.

[Locit]

Yeah, this actually sounds pretty good based on that article. I'm pretty excited for it, and looking forward to playing it in...

OH SHI-

[(No Imagination)]

These graphics tend to look slightly better after they've been snapped, resized and dithered by the print. The background sea/islands are still lazy though.

I don't see anyone mentioning it, but page 2 shows Sonic 3's probably most annoying enemy return - there are gonna be tears shed for accidentally home-jumping into those suckers while their spikes are extended, I say.

[Malchik]

I don't see anyone mentioning it, but page 2 shows Sonic 3's probably most annoying enemy return - there are gonna be tears shed for accidentally home-jumping into those suckers while their spikes are extended, I say.

Ah, fuck, you're right.

[Dr. BUGMAN]

I'd say that's actually a good thing. Some actual skill will be needed instead of just hammering the homing button like an attention-deficit chimp. Probably the most reassuring bit of news I've heard about this thing.

[Rob-Bert]

The official website says that some of them don't even have spikes, so....yeah.

[Dr. BUGMAN]

Gotta hand it to Sega -- no-one else but them can dash my hopes as soon as they raise them.

[Esrever]

Official site got a big update today. Lots of new screenshots and also some downloadable music.

I'm sure at least some people will be happy to see that Sonic's spiraling, blury feet have returned. The music sounds a lot like Senoue's work for Sonic 3D Blast. (Only with that sharp popping snare-drum they used in all the Sonic 1 and 2 music.)

[Radrappy]

The music is pretty unremarkable but that's okay. I like the distortion shown behind the ribbons of water.

On a side note, has anyone been keeping up with the mike hayes interviews springing up around the net, and how he creepily alludes to Sonic Heroes 2?

[cjmcray]

I wouldn't mind having a sequel to Sonic Heroes.

Heroes was one of the last Sonic titles I really enjoyed. It did get a bit repetitive and was overloaded with way too many characters, but it was colorful, silly and fun. I just hope they don't add any new teams.. (which they most likely will..)

[Dr. BUGMAN]

Not to nit-pick, but the old Warner Bros.-style feet blur looks really off on post-Adventure Sonic.

[(No Imagination)]

I...kind of like to nitpick, so my problem of the moment is gonna be that wall Sonic's running on and the way its shading makes increasingly less sense the more I look at it.

[Blount]

Not to nit-pick, but the old Warner Bros.-style feet blur looks really off on post-Adventure Sonic.

It would probably look better if the feet shape wasn't so long and elliptical for some reason.

I sort of get a "Sweet Sweet Sweet" vibe from the music on the site.

[Neo]

I...kind of like to nitpick, so my problem of the moment is gonna be that wall Sonic's running on and the way its shading makes increasingly less sense the more I look at it.

I know, right?

[j-man]

Actually, if you stop acting the arse for a second and let your eyes casually flick across the whole thing, that apparently nonsensical lighting gives the impression of an undulating surface rather than a flat one. Illusion of depth. That's how we used to do it, back in the good old days.

It's nice to hear a decent quality sample of the music, but I'm interested in hearing the remixes for the other acts to see how they build on the theme. That little offbeat before the refrain is pretty cool, though. Love the Mega Drive kicks and snares.

[Neo]

Actually, if you stop acting the arse for a second and let your eyes casually flick across the whole thing, that apparently nonsensical lighting gives the impression of an undulating surface rather than a flat one. Illusion of depth.

So if I stare into it and go cross-eyed, will I see a lion?

They're prerendered 3D graphics. If they wanted an undulating surface they could've made one. This is shitty graphic tiling, and it's present almost everywhere you look.

I wish they had stuck with the hand-drawn graphics from Rush. Just as bland as these, but at least they looked right.

[j-man]

They're prerendered 3D graphics. If they wanted an undulating surface they could've made one.

And viewed side-on you wouldn't be able to tell the difference unless they *gasp* put some shading effects on it!
But no, I must be wrong. Shitty tiling. Lazy execution. THANKS A LOT DIMPS WHY DON'T I JUST PUT A PENCIL IN MY NOSE AND HEADBUTT A DESK

[Neo]

So what, is one of your offspring working on the game or something? Why do you get so butthurt when people point out flaws in it?

man look at the tiling on that wall this game must be a piece of shit

Did I say the shoddy tiling made Sonic 4 a piece of shit? Have we lost the right to give our opinions on stuff now? What the fuck?

Also, good job triple posting.


EDIT:


also here's a pefectly fine undulating surface ----------------------------------^

[FlashTHD]

Did I say the shoddy tiling made Sonic 4 a piece of shit? Have we lost the right to give our opinions on stuff now? What the fuck?

If you ask that guy from Destructiod and I expect most of the press, yes.

Still obscenely lazy looking environments. A while back when that first boss screenshot got out, one guy I showed it to adamantly believed it to be a bad photoshop because of a recurring "mistake" in the grass render. I guess that's just Dimps' angle then!

[Yami CJMErl]

Sounds to me like Dimps can't get their textures/graphic tiles to apply properly...

[Opa-Opa]

You guys fight too much over a videogame.

I'd love a Sonic Heroes 2. It really was the last Sonic game I enjoyed playing a lot.

[K2J]

Sonic Heroes 2 would be PR suicide, given how people see the Sonic games as being unnecessarily filled with characters. It could potentially be pulled off well, I suppose, but it wouldn't be very popular for that reason alone. Maybe after building up confidence with more singular titles.