A guide to reviving Sonic from the dead: Common game flaws debunked.

The first thing is the amount of characters. There's no need for 12-16 characters at a time! If it were up to me, I would make the storyline playable with Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles; and that's it. The characters that matter. They can add as many other characters as they want, but leave them for multiplayer or for when you're just screwing around. Who the hell wants to play as Big the Cat or Amy anyways? They always feel the need to stretch the game out longer with secondary krappy characters no-one cares about. I don't know about you, but playing the same levels over and over again as E-102-Y pretty much sucked.

Speaking of E-102-Y, it's also bad whenever they try to mix in elements that have nothing to do with Sonic. The series isn't about fishing or shooting robots, its about action and speed; and if something you're adding isn't contributing to that, it doesn't belong there. However, having the different characters play differently is a fantastic addition and opens up a lot of opportunities for replayability.

Another thing that needs to be changed is the storylines and "adventure" elements. The adventure fields were fine, and you can tell that SEGA's dancing around it with what they gave in Sonic Advance 3 and the boat stages in Sonic Rush Adventure. They added exploration and depth, and they can still retain to the Sonic formula if they do it properly. The storylines need a complete overhaul. If they made a game where feelings were lost, people died, that were similar to the Sonic Adventure series, and had the same depth as the comics did; it would be end-all.

Finally, SEGA needs to stop half-assing their games or Sonic will slowly crumble to the ground. If they keep putting these krappy games out as a cash-grab while mooching of systems that are popular at the moment while ignoring camera and kiddy-image problems that have been with the series since day one; it will never curve up!

But that's just my opinion. What do you think?

While it cool that you're trying to think of a way to "save" Sonic, the only way to do it would be to relegate all Sonic games as 2D handheld games, because lets face it, Sonic just doesn't work in 3D, and they would never make a major console game that was 2D, so he should just live on on the DS.

Thing is, that kind of speed Sonic once had really does not translate well into 3D.HandsomeDead

because lets face it, Sonic just doesn't work in 3DGamefan1986

That's why I've always thought that Sonic should have been the 3D on a side-scrolling field type game. Like New Super Mario Bros. Yeah, 3D is the cool new way to make games, but that doesn't necessarily mean you have to drastically change the gameplay. Sonic was fun for me as long as it was a side-scroller. Ever since they changed that I haven't found a Sonic game I've really liked since.

It's like the difference between Mega Man 64 and Mega Man: Powered Up. MM64 tried the whole running around Mario 64 style and it didn't work at all. But MM: PU was 3D with that same old MM gameplay and it was a blast to play through.

I never felt the Sonic games were all about the speed and the enemies were never all that difficult, there's much more exploration involved in the good Genesis games than most people give credit for. Much of the challenge and fun came from trying to find all the secrets and different paths in a stage while maintaining control of a fast character.

I'd like to have more big branching stages with multiple paths and platforming puzzles in the new games over 30 seconds of holding forward while Sonic runs through a predetermined roller coaster ride. More homages to the old stages that deserve a facelift instead of constantly coming up with new zones and hubs just for the sake of something new. And of course less emphasis on Sonics percieved "attitude" and the increasingly bad storylines and extra characters.

A hi-res, 60 fps 2D Sonic game with the care of Odin Sphere behind the artwork would be perfect for the series. Tons going on the in the background, great animation and old school level design. Maybe a few RPG-lite elements thrown in for good measure. That's a Sonic game I could get excited for.

lets face it, Sonic just doesn't work in 3DGamefan1986

i think you're right with everything. Especially the stupid characters.

What he really needs is to go back to 2D

[QUOTE="Gamefan1986"]lets face it, Sonic just doesn't work in 3DPanzer_Zwei

[QUOTE="Panzer_Zwei"][QUOTE="Gamefan1986"]lets face it, Sonic just doesn't work in 3DBuryMe

The whole "it doesn't work in 3D" it's just an excuse for justifying the devs lack of vision.

All this "teh Sonic doesn't work in 3D!!!111one" is actually complete bollocks. Sonic Adventure 1 & 2 were great games. The problem is that Sega half arse their games now. I mean I had the Sonic for the 360. The gameplay was ok, problems:

A)Story sucked
B)Had the worst load times of any game ever - Example here
C)Playing as other characters except Sonic / Shadow was awful
D)Some gameplay glitches.

But the core gameplay elements and characters are there to make a fantastic game, in 3D. If sega would just put more effort in then trying to cash up on the name alone.

B)Had the worst load times of any game ever - Example hereAzelKosMos

[QUOTE="BuryMe"][QUOTE="Panzer_Zwei"][QUOTE="Gamefan1986"]lets face it, Sonic just doesn't work in 3DPanzer_Zwei

The whole "it doesn't work in 3D" it's just an excuse for justifying the devs lack of vision.

*clap* *clap* *clap*