Overdue: Sega to fix Sonic the Hedgehog 'over time'
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ Jul 30th 2009 at 4:30PM }
Though Ratcliffe insisted that last year's Sonic Unleashed proved to be a hit with "the kids," it's the "die-hard Sega fans" that were "fairly critical." Which is putting it quite "nicely," we think. Sega is investigating numerous options for Sonic's future -- including digital distribution through iPhone, XBLA "and so on" -- though Ratcliffe warns that "it's always a challenge to raise that quality bar."
Really? When it's all the way down there?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mana37 (PSN: Manifest37) @ Jul 30th 2009 4:32PM
Didn't they say this last time?
I'm afraid Sonic's best times were back in the 16-bit era.
MarioSpitza @ Jul 30th 2009 5:42PM
Exactly.
I'm not exactly sure why Sega admitting Sonic is hasn't been featured in a good game since forever is supposed to be a 'victory' when they have admitted this before. Hell, doing a search on Joystiq will reveal prior articles in which Sega did exactly that.
Tiptup300 @ Jul 30th 2009 8:52PM
All they need is a 2D reboot like Megaman 9.
Have some catchy kickass tunes. THREE playable characters. (Sonic, Tails, & Knuckles.)
And have levels with a giant amount personality.
And no FUCKING eggman. It's Dr. Ivo Robotnik.
Tom @ Jul 30th 2009 4:36PM
Do sonic New Super Mario Bros. style and all will be well again!
Jared @ Jul 30th 2009 4:44PM
You mean Sonic Rush? It's a pretty good game, but nowhere near the quality of the older games.
KEENMACHlNE @ Jul 30th 2009 4:48PM
Sonic Rush on DS was actually halfway decent, especially when compared unleashed/black knight/sonic '06.
The main problem is FAR too many sonic games are being released. I think that's one of the reasons mario games are still great while sonic games aren't. We don't see 3-4 mario games a year (spinoffs aside, I'm talking actual platformers.) Instead, Nintendo takes their time and puts out one solid game at a time.
But then again, people are buying these new terrible games by the millions, so Sega has no motivation to stop driving sonic team and the sonic franchise into the ground.
Neuromancer @ Jul 30th 2009 5:24PM
Don't know why you got downvoted, I thought it was an OK idea. Joystiq commenters can be fickle mistresses.
Travis @ Jul 30th 2009 4:36PM
Sonic is dead. Move along, move along.
Emceay @ Jul 30th 2009 6:26PM
Yeah, finish making Eternal Champions 3.
Blank-Mage @ Jul 31st 2009 8:17AM
"No! Again!"
*Phthunk- beeeeeeeeeeeee*
*Phthunk- beep beeeeeeee*
"NOT ON MY WATCH!"
deaftly @ Jul 30th 2009 4:37PM
Give him boobs
Dirty @ Jul 30th 2009 4:39PM
SEGA, Hire this man.
Babel @ Jul 30th 2009 4:47PM
Nah, all he really needs is a new wisecracking sidekick. The last dozen have been lame, but this new guy - a diamond chinchilla - will be kickass awesome, guaranteed.
samfish (uses the Joystiq Comment-Kill filter!) @ Jul 30th 2009 5:06PM
This could work. I've seen lots of pictures of Sonic with boobs.
Russ W. @ Jul 30th 2009 6:39PM
He should also cuss. CAUSE SONIC IS TOTALLY EDGY AND ON THE EDGE.
Akuma FTW @ Jul 30th 2009 4:37PM
Lose Dr. Robotnik, Tales, and anything associated with his license. Put some age on him, and rest the fate of the world (post apocalypse) on his shoulders. Then make him fight Zombies
Mr Khan @ Jul 30th 2009 4:44PM
This has to be a joke, right? Why not go with that "Mario shooting hookers" game that Iwata once swore would never happen, while we're at it?
captainprotonx @ Jul 30th 2009 4:46PM
I'm pretty positive this is a witty retort on the latest gaming fads.
Also, it might be a leaked memo from the Sonic Team.
Akuma FTW @ Jul 30th 2009 4:48PM
Actually, no. I'd build it like an open world racing game. He'd have to collect rings, but they'd be made of BLOOD
Mana37 (PSN: Manifest37) @ Jul 30th 2009 4:54PM
lol, I'd play it.
& this Mario shooting hookers sounds like a GOTY.
samfish (uses the Joystiq Comment-Kill filter!) @ Jul 30th 2009 5:00PM
Mario & Old Sonic at the Post-Apocalyptic Zombie Hooker Ranch
Akuma FTW @ Jul 30th 2009 6:28PM
"Mario & Old Sonic at the Post-Apocalyptic Zombie Hooker Ranch"
Mario would have to be a steampunk/cyborg voiced by Ian Mckellan
captainprotonx @ Jul 30th 2009 4:38PM
Sorry, ha, I'm a little doubtful Sega can fix anything.
"it's always a challenge to raise that quality bar." So, I guess Nintendo made a deal with the Devil?
Come the hell on. Stop giving Sonic shit he DOESN'T need. Skateboards, hoverboards, carts, a fucking support group, guns, swords, and god damn mutation POWERS. Did the Dreamcast really leave you this broken?
He is SONIC. HE RUNS. Build around that.
Storm Eagle (MW2 Sweatshop Union Leader) @ Jul 30th 2009 4:41PM
I'm telling you man, Sonic Adventure 3 without the B.S. Shooting and Treasure finding stages. I would be satisfied with something of that caliber. I was playing SA2 last week just because I loved playing the Sonic and Shadow action stages so much. He can keep the grinding, I liked that part.
Worsel @ Jul 30th 2009 4:45PM
"I was playing SA2 last week just because I loved playing the Sonic and Shadow action stages so much. He can keep the grinding, I liked that part."
THAT'S WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE SERIES! Get back to the classic Sonic games like 2 and 3, Sonic didnt grind rails or switch characters or go on treasure hunts.
HE JUST RAN FAST.
Mr Khan @ Jul 30th 2009 4:45PM
The shooting and treasure-hunting (and the glorious Chao raising subgame), were what helped balance Adventure 2 out, though.
Adventure 2 is the 2nd best game of all time, after all. Everyone on the planet except for Retro Studios should be trying to emulate its glory.
captainprotonx @ Jul 30th 2009 4:52PM
Seriously, Sonic. We love you.
Your parents are assholes.
Peace. *fist pound*
Vidikron @ Jul 30th 2009 4:52PM
The Adventure games were mediocre. I agree with captainprotonx, screw all the gadgets let Sonic do what he does best.
KingOfHearts @ Jul 30th 2009 5:09PM
He platformed too... We need a mix of both.
.. And Tails. I love that guy.
CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Jul 30th 2009 5:39PM
"Adventure 2 is the 2nd best game of all time"
Whenever you say this I completely crack up. I like how they say they will fix it "over time"...it makes it sound like they plan on releasing a few more crappy games before fixing it.
Omega2k3 @ Jul 30th 2009 6:15PM
Actually, Worsel, he did all three of those things...
WREturns (www.theseagullweekly.com) @ Jul 30th 2009 4:38PM
Why does he have to be 3D? Therein lies the problem...and the solution.
Worsel @ Jul 30th 2009 4:39PM
It's been, what, 14 years since a good Sonic game came out? How much more "time" do these people need!?
Im convinced that Sega is being run by the same people who are in charge of the Tomb Raider franchise, every game that comes out will be better and it's an even worse pile of crap.
Wake me up if they ever come out with a Dreamcast 2 while we are at it.
Utils @ Sep 18th 2009 5:51PM
Tomb Raider was never good.
Candyman :-P @ Jul 30th 2009 4:43PM
Over time? Hasn't the past 5 years been long enough to bring out a Sonic game that wasn't hot garbage?
Old Professor Zertoss @ Jul 30th 2009 4:44PM
So now it's "over time"? Well, I guess that's a realistic goal.
How to fix Sonic the Hedgehog:
Step 1: Do an HD remake, or Turbo HD Remix if you will, of one or more of the following:
(1) Sonic the Hedgehog (Genesis/Megadrive)
(2) Sonic the Hedgehog 2
(3) Sonic CD
(4) Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles
Step 2: Release on 360, PS3, PC, etc.
Step 3: PROFIT
There is no uncertainty step here.
Mr Khan @ Jul 30th 2009 4:47PM
But that's not going to prepare Sonic for the future at all, though. You're just going to appeal to a small group of nostalgia-driven people. Nostalgia games are fun, but they don't help grow a brand. Just ask Punch-Out!!
Worsel @ Jul 30th 2009 4:54PM
Punch-Out didnt grow because they only added in one new person and kept the same strategies on how to defeat the old guys vs, you know, actually spending some time on a game and new characters.
Old Professor Zertoss @ Jul 30th 2009 4:57PM
Sometimes going backward is the only way to go forward. Maybe remaking the great games will remind them of what made Sonic great in the first place.
KingOfHearts @ Jul 30th 2009 5:13PM
I think Sega's re-released 2D sonic games enough over the years in collection disks and on various platforms... I dont want another port of an old game i have a million of.
Unleashed was a good game, people just didnt like the werehog stuffs..
Mr Khan @ Jul 30th 2009 5:37PM
KingOfHearts is right. Clearly Sonic Team has had every opportunity to recall what made Sonic great, every time they've helped supervise a compilation/re-release, and they've ignored that advice.
And from your comments, Worsel, you can't have played more than half of Punch-Out!!
Old Professor Zertoss @ Jul 30th 2009 5:54PM
And you liked SatBK, Khan, so why should anyone listen to your opinion on what to do with Sonic?
Mr Khan @ Jul 30th 2009 7:27PM
Because Sonic and the Black Knight was still closer to what they should do with the series than not. The swordplay was quite satisfying, and the game's balance of speed was quite good. The game's problems were mostly an issue of progression
Read my review:
http://www.vgchartz.com/games/gamereviewdisp.php?id=24881&reviewid=251
Erluti @ Jul 30th 2009 4:44PM
Why aren't they making more games like for the DS? Sonic Rush was freaking awesome. It was the best Sonic game in years! (I say that like it means something?)
Why don't they put out some hot 2d platformer action on the XBLM? The old Sonic games were good, just make more of that with some HD graphics.
No Kill Tayler @ Jul 30th 2009 4:45PM
If the stuck with the 3d yet 2d idea and not add the wolf thing, i would've bought it.
Nate Addison @ Jul 30th 2009 4:46PM
this post reminded me of the "livin in a van down by the river skit"...i lol'd
Jon D @ Jul 30th 2009 4:48PM
they can't fix it. this was pretty much inevitable from everything post-Sonic Adventure 2.
also, no more remakes. i'd rather leave the classics where they belong.
Otis @ Jul 30th 2009 4:51PM
"So.. how do we fix this sonic mess..."
"Well, there's these sonic games that already exist that are regarded as good. Maybe we could be like them and li..."
"WHAT? No no no.. that's crazy talk. Let's add more guns, more gameplay styles, and more furry friends! That'll fix this right up!"
"...."
Anyways, fixing Sonic is pretty easy. Just make it play like the ones, or parts of ones, that aren't regarded as awful.
-Vexx- @ Jul 30th 2009 4:50PM
So Sonic Advance and Sonic Rush series just suck right?
O.o
Spirit @ Jul 30th 2009 4:57PM
People seem to be denying their existence.