Sonic Rush on the Nintendo DS is two screens of blue

by Ben Zackheim { May 18th 2005 at 1:06AM }

Some people can't get enough of Mario. I can't get enough of Sonic. It's probably the sneer. I've always wanted to sneer like that. Gamespot got their hands on one full level of the upcoming DS title and seem to like it. They note that the 2D look of the game is a lot like the Sonic games of old, with one exception — two screens. While the touch screen isn't utilized in the current build, both windows are used to give the effect of a larger world. Take a look at the screenie to the right for an idea of how that will play out. Good stuff.

This one is now on my E3 must-demo list. Stand aside and let the chubby Jewish Scotsman through.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

mark @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

ok, sonic might convince me to get the DS... using the two screens to increase the viewing area is smart.

Mattack @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

How about just having a bigger screen? This is exactly the problem with the DS. There are going to be games that do not utilize the technology at all, and then what do they do? They extend the screen in a vertical orientation... hmm... considering the fact that widescreen is more natural for our eyes, this seems to be the opposite of practical. PSP anybody?

n8 @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

The DS was killed yesterday when Nintendo announced that they are continuing support for the GBA platform. Why would any development company put energy into creating a game that only plays on two million devices worldwide when they could create a game that will run on 100 million?

GamerHeaven @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

n8.

Your knowledge of the DS is a little, erm, lacking.

The DS has sold over 6 Million units worldwide, and sales aren't slowing, they are only going to increase when the big games hit.

And just so you know over 200 development houses are doing just what you claim they wouldn't be - making a slew of DS games.

I think you'll find the DS was boosted yesterday, what with the announcement of Mario Kart and Animal Crossing with free online gaming. Tha coupled with innovative and awesome games like Electroplankton and Nintendogs.

If you don't like the DS that's your choice, but please be a little more informed on it and the industry before making such bold statements.

n8 @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

I do like the DS. I mean, I don't own one, but mostly because there haven't been any truly compelling games. I don't have a PSP either, FWIW.

Maybe my figures are off, but I think that it's going to be very difficult for folks to justify developing games for the DS because it requires a lot more thought than developing for just one screen. Nintendo essentially split its own market, which is generally a bad thing. They already made the DS backward compatible with the GBA, but with the introduction of the micro they've told the market that there are going to be a lot more games on the GBA on the way, and the more people have the GBA (in all of its itterations) the more people are going to develop for the GBA. Simple as that.

Granted I used the word "kill" and that might have been over-dramatic, but at the very least continued support of the GBA platform will draw development talent away from the DS, and Nintendo shouldn't be splitting its market when going h2h with PSP.

GamerHeaven @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

I kind of see your point, the thing is the DS isn't in the same "market" technically as the GBA.

For example 59% of DS gamers in Japan are over 19, and 30% are female.

I'm sure we'll agree that (sadly) the GBA is considered a children tagetted system, even though it has some stellar RPG's.

The DS is a third pillar, as Nintendo like to tout, it is about appealing to Hardcore and non-gamers all at once. It also isn't in the same "market" as the PSP either.

As an example of the different markets the GBA is still easily outselling the XBOX Japan, and the SP has over 1/3 of DS or PSP sales:

Total hardware sales in Japan from Jan 1st to May 1st Japan:

PSP - 796,654 (actually now 860k, total sales 1.3 Million)
DS - 739,557 (actually now 870k, total sales 2.4 Million)
SP - 280,128
GBA - 9,594

As you can see the SP isn't being damaged by the DS or PSP really, nearly 300k for an old system is good, and even the GBA going better than the XBOX (it's on 6k).

And just to complicate things further the GBAM isn't even going after the GBA/SP market.

Basically the DS isn't damaging the GBA and vice versa - both are still being developed for strongly. Especially the DS.

Sigh, market analysis is a bitch sometimes :-/

Sean @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

I guess Mattack never played an old school Sonic game..sonic was never about the left otr right(Sonic's too fast) it's about the up and down, specially when Tails and Knuckes showed up.

Mattack @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

The fact that Sonic is fast actually lends itself to having more side-to-side viewing room. The fact that the screen was 4:3 always seemed like a limitation to me when I did indeed play the old Sonic games. Sonic moved very quickly, and it would be easier to make a game that utilizes his speed if you can see further ahead, no? I used to be a big fan of Sega, and I played the games all the time. Since when did Sonic only go up and down? I remember a lot of side-to-side quick action personally.

Besides, the point is... look at that picture... does it look natural to you? It looks awkward to me. I don't want to have to look up and down between screens when I'm playing a fast-moving game, or any game for that matter. And if I was using two screens, I would want them to be side-by-side. Widescreen is better for a reason. It better fits our natural viewing. These two vertically oriented screens are just not ideal for something like this. The only type of game I could see this being good for would be a game in which you do nothing but climb upward. So make this work for the original Donkey Kong games and I'll understand it.

MooMix @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

#2: It's not like Nintendo can't redesign the DS to make the top screen fit almost flush with the bottom screen.

How many versions of the Gameboy did they have? They've had at least 3 redesigns of the GBA already.

It's not impossible that they would do something like this.

Personally I like the idea of having two screens. It opens up so many possibilities.

What I want to know is why game development shops are SO UNCREATIVE that they can't figure out how to make a cool game that uses two screens AND a touch screen??!!!

Isn't that the whole reason people dream of becoming game developers? To be creative and develop bad ass games?

These days it seems like all anybody cares about is super fast systems with great graphics so they can rehash yet another Grand Theft Auto 3: Insert Lame Title Here or Quake clone, but this time with BETTER GRAPHICS.. WHEEEE sooooooo creative. give me a fucking break.

It makes me wonder what those guys do all day. Sit down in their meetings and say "Ok lets come up with ideas for the coolest game ever" and everybody is like "hmm I don't feel like thinking.. what's been the most popular style of game for the past uhmmmm 7 years? Ok lets just do that.. The 10 year old kids who want to act like adults by not playing 'kid games' will eat it up"

GamerHeaven @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

Mattack.

"Sonic moved very quickly, and it would be easier to make a game that utilizes his speed if you can see further ahead, no?"

That would kill 2D Sonic games.

The whole point is quick reaction times, if you could see everything earlier it would ruin the integral gameplay mechanic of 2D Sonic. Nope this version could easily be the best 2D Sonic game.

There was indeed plenty of upward action, it's where the game became a "platformer" - you did the quick reaction pat, then on upward platforming sections through the various springs etc.

The top screen, now this is naturally guess work, will have a virtual second dimension to the game.

Just think, you're blasting along doing the quick reaction part and you hit a vertical section, you'll shift your focus from speed reaction to precision and control - perfect.

I'm with the chubby Jewish Scotsman on this one, I can't wait to play it, sadly I'm stuck here in the sleet and rain of Scotland not living it large in LA.

Darrio @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

Im a huge sonic the hedgehog fan and this game is goin to be the best game for the ds by far. all the other ds games suck. so posting my opinions about this game im looking forward for it. and sonic will always be the best damn character in the history of gaming

Darrio @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

being able to use both screens while playing this game is very smart. this is what a ds needs all thoughs crappy games are not worth it sonic rush is going to be the best game for the ds and if people dont own a ds they will bye it just to get this game. i mean to me sonic is 10 times better than mario. if sonic can pull this one off for the ds with mutiplayer we might have the best ds game of 2005 and by far people.

Striderhayasa @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

Well, I think that Sony has a serious problem on their hands. Nintendo is kicking their butts with a portable that is less powerful and has a lackluster library with the exception of a few games. Sure sony will use the Madden and the Grand Theft to sell systems but Nintendo is still coming with Mario Kart, Metroid, Castlevania and Jump Superstars etc. These are all system selling titles that are exclusive to Nintendo. I own a DS and I love the potential of the unit but I hate the library up until this point. I look forward to Nanostray which should be out later this week and Jump Superstars comes in early August. It's going to be a very interesting christmas season too this year.

I'm clearly more excited about the portables than the consoles at this point. Sonic is just more gravy added. Now if Sega would just give us a Nights....