Sega making 'all new' 2D, hi-def Sonic game for 2010

by Randy Nelson on Sep 9th 2009 12:05AM

Just hours shy of Sega Dreamcast's 10 year anniversary comes word that Sega's iconic mascot, Sonic the Hedgehog, is due to make a return to his 2D roots in a new game planned for 2010. Currently going by the codename Project Needlemouse, the game will be high-definition and is "built from the ground up," according to a report by GameSpot.

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!]

Source

Tags: project-needlemouse, sega, sonic, sonic-the-hedgehog

Reader Comments (196)

Yeah, i'm not pleased with that, either. Letting the whiners have their way is never really a victory, even if the whiners had valid points to begin with

I... I think Sega might be learning.

:D

Thank the Dreamcast's anniversary.

"It's thinking."

cautiously optimistic, though if SEGA is touting the game as high-definition, i wonder whether it'll make it to Wii

Doubt they'd overlook it, like i said before. Sonic sells better on Wii than elsewhere, and it would be a badly missed opportunity.

Hopefully they take design cues from the older Sonic games, though, and make this thing brimming with bright, flashy colors.

I'm going to play it safe and jump right to the 3rd stage of Sonic Game hype... this game sucks. Maybe next time they'll get it right.

Wow, they finally started listening to everyone who's been shouting at them for the past decade.

That's cool... in the meantime, they should re-release Sonic CD on PSN and XBLA.

I loved Sonic Unleashed. I can't wait for this.

it's gonna have to prove alot before I put faith back into Sonic.

No storyline
No new mess of minor characters
Robotnik trying to rule the world with this Death sta- *ahem*- Egg!
Speed.

Robotnik has to be called Robotnik, and instead of focusing on speed all the time, the game needs to focus on platforming first and speed second, like it used to.

Sure I'm excited about this 2D Sonic game but you guys act like there hasn't been a good Sonic game in a long time. Try playing the Sonic Advance and Rush game on the Nintendo Handhelds

Those were okay. But they focused too much on speed. No downtime, no platforming. Sonic games used to be about platforming first, and speed second. You weren't running full speed all the time. There was a lot of slower spots, and every now and then you'd get to a section where you are going full tilt. And when you got to those spots, they were AWESOME, because it was a treat instead of what you do through the entire game.

Is it April 1st again already?

PLEASE BE TRUE

Reckon it will be 2.5D?

Wow, it only took a decade or so to give fans what they have repeatedly, directly said they wanted.

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...

Needs: Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles,
Does not Need: Stupid Friends like Amy, Rose, Silver, Big, etc.

Needs: Awesome music.
Does not need: Female-vocaled Jap-pop.

Needs: Challenging special stages at the checkpoints to obtain Chaos Emeralds and therefore activate Super Sonic.
Does not need: Werewolves, Swords, Soap Shoes

Needs: Dr. Robotonik (or Eggman), Scratch & Grounder
Does not need: Shadow with a machine gun on a motorcycle.

It's that simple Sega. Keep it 2D, keep it real. And our money will be your's.

robotonik was such a cooler name than eggman

No, I want Amy Rose in it. D=

No seriously I don't care what you think. I want Amy Rose to be in it. You "guys" just can't keep thinking to yourselves. Amy DID appear in Sonic CD, which was one of the best Sonic games up to date. There >shouldn't< be a storyline in this game, so what's the harm of adding Amy in this game? =/

While I'm happy they're finally listening to fans, and are going back to what has already been proven to WORK, I don't want them to stop trying to fix their 3D. I had NO issues with Sonic Adventure. Sonic Adventure 2 was just as good, except that I prefer free roaming to level formats almost every time. If SEGA has just removed all those silly areas mid-level that force Sonic to stop running in a small space in order to focus on attacking enemies a la Sonic The Hedgehog 360, everything would have been fine. Sonic can run on walls can't he? He can roll into a sharp ball to attack things? He breakdances? Why does he EVER need to stop moving in order to attack anything?

Also, go back to the mobius from SatAM and the comics! I'd love to see them in game!!

Teaser site discovered. And apparently the domain was registered back on August 21st, so it can't be something someone whipped up in reaction to this

http://www.needlemouse.com/

Looks like it'll be 2.5D. Though rumors currently running on GAF have shown something sprite-based, though that could just be artwork based on Sonic 2. Not sure.

sonic team is working on this. They're cursed so this will turn out bad.

"all new adventure" and "built from the ground up" are two phrases worrying me.

It doesn't say anywhere that Sonic Team is working on this game.

I'm in full agreement with Xav De Matos' standing belief that Sonic is just TERRIBLE these days, so this COULD be another nugget of gaming armageddon waiting in the wings.

That hockey stick is still in ready position.

Please release a Dreamcast version (if possible). If it costs $125, then I would still buy it because it would be epic.

Sonic Team has been building shitty games "from the ground up" for a while now. They need to get their act together. Act 1, Zone 1 that is.

Stop fucking around and make a good game already.

Yeah, while I'm sure critical consensus is that this is better than a 3d Sonic game, I'm not so sure.I see it as chickening out. Then again, I enjoyed Adventure/Adventure 2/Heroes, so...there's that.

I don't believe that they've done anything besides make this trailer.

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.

VIDEO!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w7xUWO2F3o

FAIL above by the way - wrong forum

do ignore!

Have not the last few sonic games been "From the ground up"? Seriously, as MUCH as I want the sonic I swore loyalty to as a child back, I'm not getting my hopes up. They WILL find a way to keep sonic slow in this next game, the same HORENDOUS voice will return to do so, classic music will most likely NOT make a comeback, and while the cinematics will be entertaining, the game graphics, will not.

Please understand, I bought all the comics as a kid, I watched it religiously on tv, I WORE THE CLOTHES!!! And to play these games and just watch them getting more mind numbingly stupid is offensive, nay, hurtful.

It better blow me away in the TRAILER, as Sega using old logos(sweet...), sound effects(sweet...), Sega phrases(sweet memories), and promises are not gonna be enough.

Two words: Sonic Rush.

They aren't cursed, they've just been sucking a lot.

DO IT, SEGA. DO IT NOW, DO IT RIGHT.

When I first heard the old Sonic noises err sounds, I felt like fainting right there and now. Bringing back the old Sonic is a really great idea, let's see how Sega will be able to bring back the good old Sonic. :D

OMG YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This video dictates the thought behind the "Sonic cycle" very well. It starts with something very promising, the classic "SEEEGGAAAAA" intro that those of us during the Genesis generation know and love. Then we proceed to follow Sonic through several loops, depicting the slow revealing of information from Sega that make us groan, but we bear with anyways, and then into the spikes/enemies/whatever and lose our rings, where we realize that this game will blow. The lesson is not to trust Sega's Sonic Team development studios. Remain skeptical. 2D and HD does not immediately mean that he's returning to his roots

Also, to many of you: A game that only involves holding right and tapping A every so often does not make it a classic Sonic game. It makes it Emerald Hill Zone: Featuring Sonic.

Now, if only they wouldn't talk at all....
then we'd be going somewhere! haha

I haven't read all the comments, but I guess I'm the only one hoping to see Shadow in this game somewhere.

Don't get me wrong, I admit Sonic's friends got out of hand...but I've always liked Shadow. I'd like to see Tails, Knuckles, Amy, and him be the only ones that make the cut.

Oh, and by the way -- NEW SONIC GAME! 2D!! HD!!! WOOOO!!!! > o <

Let Sonic rest in peace, please.

I think that a really well made 2D game can be better than an OK 3D game. And Sonic made a franchise, and delivered Sega into popularity. They had hundreds of titles when the SNES was launched, but outside of us fanboys Sonic is the first title people think of when you bring up the Genesis. Plus they have been making Sonic games for twenty years, so you'd better believe they're going to do it right.

I'm crossing my fingers that this is at least Sonic Rush quality.
I'm really hoping that this will be able to give Sonic 2 and 3 a run for the money.

This would probably work best as a downloadable game and last about as long as Sonic 3 did. I think I would have gotten tired of Sonic 2 and 3 if they lasted 8 hours.

But does it really have to be HD? the best resolution for Sonic is still 320*224 plus more pixels. And Naka should save us? xD They better get Oshima for this!

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Sega making 'all new' 2D, hi-def Sonic game for 2010

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