Sega making 'all new' 2D, hi-def Sonic game for 2010
by Randy Nelson 
{ Sep 9th 2009 at 12:05AM } 
The site spoke with Ken Ballough, associate brand manager at Sega America, who said, "Old-school Sonic fans have long asked to see Sonic return to a more 2D style of gameplay. Many liked the daytime stages in Unleashed, but wanted to see a game that plays purely similar to the early games of the Genesis. Project Needlemouse is that critical first step that brings Sonic back to his 2D roots."
In late July, Sega America marketing VP Sean Ratcliffe admitted that core gamers have lost a fair massive amount of faith in the Sonic franchise, saying that, "The quality is something that will be fixed over time." Here's hoping that the Project Needlemouse announcement is a sign the repairs will be made sooner rather than later. Check out the teaser (complete with ye olde "SEGA!" chorus) after the break.
[Thanks, Shadsy!]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington, Soon-To-Be-PSN: OrIsItAltonBrown] @ Sep 9th 2009 12:08AM
There is a god.
Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington, Soon-To-Be-PSN: OrIsItAltonBrown] @ Sep 9th 2009 12:14AM
Also, Beyond Oasis 2, please. Thanks.
goboColossus (LIVE, PSN - gobopop) @ Sep 9th 2009 12:19AM
The Legend of Oasis be that game.
Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington, Soon-To-Be-PSN: OrIsItAltonBrown] @ Sep 9th 2009 12:29AM
Ordered. Thanks for the info.
Residentevil72501 (PSN: rankore) @ Sep 9th 2009 1:01AM
AMEN TO THAT! About time Bring on the Sonic I know and love!
Tiptup300 @ Sep 9th 2009 1:29AM
OGMMOG OGMGOM O!M!!! ! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!~!!!oMFEOG YES YESY EYS YEYSY EYSEYESYSEYESYSEYSEYYESYESYSEYESYESYESYSE YEAWGH YEAGH YEHAY HEYAHD HEYAYHD YEHA YEAY yHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHEYTYESYESYYEEYSYESYESYESYEYSYESY YESYEYSYES OMGOM OMGOM OMGO MGOMGOMGOMGOGMO!MO!M!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YES! YES! OMG YES SEGA YEAH YEAH SEGA GO YEAH YREAS YES YESY YES YESY EYEYAYH YEAH YEHAO MGOM GOJMGOM OGJ>.....ok i'm done now.
Tiptup300 @ Sep 9th 2009 1:31AM
Now that I got that out of my system....
1. Must have ONLY sonic, tails, & Knuckles as playable characters.
2. Must have amazing catchy music.
3. I love SEEEGGGGAAAA!
Stevetrop @ Sep 9th 2009 1:53AM
Finally Sega has seen the light and decided to stop dicking around with Sonic. Sheeesh The games were great in 2D but when they tried to revamp him to this new dang fangled 3D realm of gaming its almost like he tripped over a banana, grabbed a bottle of jack denials, and been on this drunken stupor for over 10 years now.
Some franchises can convert to 3D with ease, some can't, I'm glad Sega can finally see that sonic was not one of them.
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Sep 9th 2009 11:50AM
FINALLY! i still go back and play the first couple Sonic games to this day cause they were that addictive. Sonic Rush was the best Sonic game in years and if they can do that on a home console count me in right now.
Duke @ Sep 9th 2009 3:57PM
Oh this would be even better news if they were making it more 3D in nature!
I'm kidding!!!
Ryoga Vee @ Sep 9th 2009 7:05PM
Lately, Sonic has really been one of those games that really jumped the Shark.. Ferret, Water buffalo, penguin, mud skipper, octopus, Cabibara, wombat, ... (List of other furry cute animals that had no business begin in sonic.)
Agath @ Sep 9th 2009 10:09PM
http://www.needlemouse.com/ epic
Devastater9951 @ Sep 21st 2009 3:47PM
amen brother
DWells55 @ Sep 9th 2009 12:08AM
This has potential.
DougOtoni @ Sep 9th 2009 8:11AM
No Humans or cities, please!!!
Just the good old sonic stuff!
t00l @ Sep 9th 2009 1:36PM
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 4 SONICTHEHEDGEHOG4!!!!
Please God; Yuji Naka save us!
wOOt Sonic 4! You can tell Im please, right?
atrimus @ Sep 9th 2009 12:09AM
please dear god! NOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooo....?
2D and HD? hmmm...
MRLN the Amazing @ Sep 9th 2009 3:23PM
Laul, everyone read this wrong. Atrimus was saying "NOOO" at the recent sonic stereotype, then going "oh, 2D and HD, it may not be bad."
Just trying to do my fellow Joystiqers a service.
Reiaze @ Sep 11th 2009 4:44AM
+'d to right the wrong.
Burns11 @ Sep 9th 2009 12:10AM
"The quality is something that will be fixed over time."
So, this game will stink but the next, next, next Sonic game will be great?
Nytrojen @ Sep 9th 2009 12:10AM
SONNNNNIKUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!
Frostblade10 @ Sep 9th 2009 12:28AM
There fucking better be a chao farm!!!!! I still play Sonic Adventure because of it!
Oh, and while I'm asking for the impossible, include Dreamcast VMUs with the Sonic Adventure chao game on it please. :)
Kyle @ Sep 9th 2009 5:47AM
chao farm lol
Somoky @ Sep 9th 2009 12:11AM
Will up down left right hold A press start still work?
Nytrojen @ Sep 9th 2009 2:16AM
19, 65, 09, 17
silverwolf761 @ Sep 9th 2009 9:17AM
4,1,2,6
Storm Eagle [Resident Capcom Megafan] @ Sep 9th 2009 9:56AM
Nytro, don't forget to hold A and keep pressing Start.
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Sep 9th 2009 12:10AM
This is what everyone has been waiting for.
but
This is Sega, and this is Sonic.
I'll wait until I see more. I don't want to get my hopes up, Sega has a very bad habit of doing that to me.
Rhamsey @ Sep 9th 2009 12:20AM
Agreed.
David @ Sep 9th 2009 12:28AM
agreed. this is only a step in the right direction because it shows that they're listening to their fans. they still have to seal the deal though, and by that i mean not introducing a bunch of retarded gimmicks (werewolves, swords) to muddy up what was once excellent gameplay.
Tristan @ Sep 9th 2009 4:03AM
Shhhh Nytrojen - That's my PIN!
dextro @ Sep 9th 2009 10:01AM
I agree. The simple fact that they are focusing the presentation on speed and not on the platforming side of the game spells trouble. If it's anything like the latter Sonics with the stupid notion of making sonic faster than the camera then it's gonna flop...
charlie b. @ Sep 9th 2009 12:26PM
did no one enjoy Sonic Rush on the DS? i'd go so far to say it's my favorite Sonic game after Sonic 2.
John M. @ Sep 9th 2009 12:12AM
Why, why must you tease us Sega? I see a teaser like that complete with the all too classic "SEEEEGAAAAAAA" intro and I'm all giddy. Then I remembered that the last few tries at this re-re-re-un-reinventing of a mascot has fallen flat on its face (Sonic Rush is great though.)
Oh well, we'll see if this works. The silhouette doesn't sit well with me though. It's like he's wearing a sombrero or something.
meatee @ Sep 9th 2009 1:34AM
Fear not, my son:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/Gravekeeper/Sonic%20Art/Sonic1HD.jpg
(Source: Gravekeeper on Kotaku)
Crusty Magic @ Sep 9th 2009 12:12AM
I think this could be really successful if they release it as a downloadable title for the PSN and XBLA.
May the Genesis Gods bless this.
outcelgeist @ Sep 9th 2009 8:33AM
Sonic was part of the 8-bit generation. You never played the original Sonic games on the Master System?
Jimbotron @ Sep 9th 2009 10:57AM
If you lived in North America, the only Sonic game for the Master System was Sonic 1, which came after the Genesis version. And it had limited distribution. It wasn't easy to get, hence why the North American version going for insane prices on eBay.
Nytrojen @ Sep 9th 2009 12:13AM
If you'll excuse me now, I'm gonna go hug my Dreamcast and Mega Drive and punch a Nintendo fanboy in the cocyx
Jrinswand @ Sep 9th 2009 12:14AM
Now now. Nobody likes an asspuncher.
Nytrojen @ Sep 9th 2009 12:17AM
P.S: - i'm also well aware of the comedic irony of having Mario as a profile picture...
Jimbotron @ Sep 9th 2009 11:04AM
@Mr Mobius: Because the Genesis Sonic games were the best. Why WOULDN'T we want another game like that?
bongoes the Black Lantern @ Sep 9th 2009 4:50PM
Ouch.
Longhorn Slim @ Sep 9th 2009 12:13AM
Why dont you just make a 3D game that works
Young_Nastyman @ Sep 9th 2009 12:20AM
cause it won't work
Rhamsey @ Sep 9th 2009 12:21AM
Because the best thing about Sonic is the speed and quick gameplay. That doesnt really work in a 3D environment.
goboColossus (LIVE, PSN - gobopop) @ Sep 9th 2009 12:37AM
So you're the one who keeps telling them that. Thanks, thanks a lot.
Nerdy Desi @ Sep 9th 2009 12:39AM
I dunno, I didn't think Sonic Adventure was that bad, aside from the secondary characters like that big purple thingie and that stupid fishing mini-game I had to do with him.
Longhorn Slim @ Sep 9th 2009 12:44AM
Whatever I enjoyed Sonic and friends,(I thinks that's what its called)......well this better be cheap and cost $10
Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington, Soon-To-Be-PSN: OrIsItAltonBrown] @ Sep 9th 2009 12:59AM
Sonic Adventure was great, but the rest have been lackluster at best and Shadow The Hedgehog at worst.