Sonic to return to 2D in 2010

[Mot Wakorb]

According to Gamespot, Sega is reinventing Sonic the Hedgehog by bringing him back to his 2D roots.

The game is code-named "Project Needlemouse" and will be released next year - thus far, no consoles have been announced for the project. As you can see in the video above - they will be creating a new 2D Sonic from the ground up. Along with the blurs that appear in the video, classic Genesis-era sounds can be heard playing as he is bolting by.

The Sonic the Hedgehog series had taken the Jump to true 3D gaming in the Dreamcast era with Sonic Adventure, and as of late was viewed to have "gone downhill" with the more recent titles.

According to the article, Sega's associate brand manager, Ken Balough confirmed that graphics will indeed be HD, and that the concept was a response to "old-school Sonic fans" who "have long asked to see Sonic return to a more 2D style of gameplay".

Source - Gamespot

[KamaItachi]

Every time they announce a Sonic game they say the same damn thing. The last decent Sonic game was Rush on the DS and they followed that one up with a terrible 2d Sonic Adventure wanna-be that threw out the simplicity of the first.

The needlemouse video was nostalgariffic, but I wont get my hopes up until I see a Hi-Def 2d Sonic game like the one I've always imagined.


EDIT: I just remembered that Sonic & Knuckles was out on XBLA last night. I need to get me some points and grab that one. That is some classic Sonic fun.

[Urizen]

If you're excited by this, you probably haven't played too many Sonic games. Lots of old franchises are going back to 2D, including Mario and Metroid. Again, Sega is behind the curve with Sonic.

There's no reason to expect this to amazing.

I really don't know why everyone is screaming "a return to roots and to the Genesis" with this. Between Sonic Advance on the GBA and Sonic Rush on the DS, why are people expecting something vastly and drastically different? More importantly, why are they expecting something better?

(Sonic Advance was a solid title, mind you.)

[BLeeP]

Originally Posted by Urizen

If you're excited by this, you probably haven't played too many Sonic games. Lots of old franchises are going back to 2D, including Mario and Metroid. Again, Sega is behind the curve with Sonic.

There's no reason to expect this to amazing.

I really don't know why everyone is screaming "a return to roots and to the Genesis" with this. Between Sonic Advance on the GBA and Sonic Rush on the DS, why are people expecting something vastly and drastically different? More importantly, why are they expecting something better?

(Sonic Advance was a solid title, mind you.)

And Sonic Rush was a fantastic title.

[Psykoboy2]

I think IGC called this a while back. In fact, I think it was during Mega Man 9's release. We looked at it and said Sega should just do this with Sonic.

[Heretic Machine]

Originally Posted by Katslover

And Sonic Rush was a fantastic title.

Sonic Rush Adventure, maybe. Sonic Rush was pitfallspitfallspitfallspitfalls.

[AgtFox]

Ever since I first heard this and saw the video the only thing I can think of is that the silhouette does not look like Sonic at all.

[BLeeP]

Originally Posted by Heretic Machine

Sonic Rush Adventure, maybe. Sonic Rush was pitfallspitfallspitfallspitfalls.

Never played Adventure. Rush, though was about as close to classic Sonic you can get. It's gets pretty hard, but Sonic games always were more difficult platformers anyway (at least for me).

[BLeeP]

Originally Posted by AgtFox

Ever since I first heard this and saw the video the only thing I can think of is that the silhouette does not look like Sonic at all.

I thought the same thing. Looks more like Speedy Gonzales (with the sombrero even).

[Mike Kelehan]

Can't wait to see how they screw this up.

[Heretic Machine]

Originally Posted by AgtFox

Ever since I first heard this and saw the video the only thing I can think of is that the silhouette does not look like Sonic at all.

Same here, I don't know what the deal is. Maybe it isn't a Sonic game?

[KamaItachi]

Originally Posted by Katslover

I thought the same thing. Looks more like Speedy Gonzales (with the sombrero even).

Dunno, looks bang on to me..

[Psykoboy2]

This was in the Joystiq comments:

[Jeffool]

Originally Posted by KamaItachi

Dunno, looks bang on to me..

Have to agree; looks exactly the same. Don't know why they didn't do this long ago.

/edit: Oh, damn, it IS exactly the same. Thankee Scott.

I remember reading once that they said the work would be a problem; that a normal Sonic game done in 3d to take XX hours and stretch XX miles, but, like the original, just re-use material and call it a day. In fact, just input the basic design, skin the level with a theme, and then add items. Ah well, here's hoping it's fun.

[AgtFox]

Maybe baby Sonic? If they're reinventing him maybe he has an all new look. I guess the big point could be his ear and the second smaller point the end of the first "spike" in his hair. It just looks weird and why not just show the whole logo?

[Ultima Thulian]

So to reinvent the hog, they try to make him play exactly like he did nearly 20 years ago? Brilliant. Oh well, Sonic games suck so much ass now, almost anything would be an improvement over some of the last few offerings (Werehog...seriously?).

[Heretic Machine]

Might be the way they replaced the black in the center with transparency that is throwing us off.

[AgtFox]

Nevermind...bang up job by Joystiq commentors. My bad, I wasn't thinking the finger was the smaller point.

[Xerxes]

I always thought the should of just did 3D on 2D gameplay. Seems like the new hotness as of late.

[Adam Blue]

SA1&2 and the daytime levels of Unleashed were effin' fun. They just need to make an SA3 full of the Unleashed daytime levels. Rush was fun, but not as a Sonic game. It played a bit differently that a standard Sonic 2D game.

Bring on a Sonic 4. Make it no different just expand on the locales, levels, and bosses. It's like a Pennywise album. I go back for the same thing, just newer hooks. And as the years go, production value is higher. (except now Jim is gone...as is most of Sonic Team).