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GC

Sega Unveils New Sonic Game

by Mike Sklens - March 8, 2005, 7:39 pm EST
Total comments: 34 Source: 1up

Sonic's rival will be the star of an all new Sonic game.

1up is reporting that Sega took the wraps off a brand new Sonic the Hedgehog game at today's Walk of Game event. However, the new game does not star Sonic. Instead, Sonic's nemesis Shadow the Hedgehog is the main character this time around.

While the core gameplay is very similar to that of Sonic Adventure, there is one huge difference. Shadow is armed and dangerous. That's right, Shadow is packing a gun. He can shoot things with his gun, as well as attack in a more traditional style. Check out 1up's story (linked above) for a video clip of the game. The game will release in the holiday season of this year.

Talkback

NotSoStuMarch 08, 2005

MEIN EYES! ZEY BURN! ZEY BURN!

Hostile CreationMarch 08, 2005

Just die, Sega. You betrayed your fans in every way imaginable; the Sonic games, the very backbone of the company, are not fun to play anymore. They are miserably, shoddily made attempts at being cool, and it's pathetic.

NinGurl69 *hugglesMarch 08, 2005

"He can shoot things with his it"

ZOMG

UniversalJuanMarch 08, 2005

Cue Ian with how this isn't that good of an example at changing image but something that SEGA is doing right while Nintendo is still screwing up in 3....2...and....

RobotorMarch 08, 2005

I thought shadow was dead, but he just keeps living. This sounds like a terrible attempt at being "cool" and "hip", or a bad april's fools joke. At least we now know that Sega has finally sold out.

FamicomMarch 08, 2005

When I first saw this on GS I thought "cool a Shadow game", since you know, Shadow does look kinda cool. But a gun? Eh, I'll pass. It's times like this I wish Ninty bought Sega at their lowest point and smacked some sense into their creative dept.

KnowsNothingMarch 08, 2005

Like I said in the thread in GC discussion, this was our last chance at a great 3D Sonic game and it has been officially punched in the groin.

Then I said something along the lines of this being "total balls" meets "ASS."

MaleficentOgreMarch 08, 2005

they have officially raped sonic of all its dignity. guns? come on now.

odifiendMarch 08, 2005

It isn't just any gun either, it is a freaking machine gun! WTF is sega thinking? I think the sales figures for GTA have become entirely too powerful when a sonic character is bastardized and starts packing heat.

DjunknownMarch 08, 2005

Wow. It seems Sega's become a regular punching bag haven't they face-icon-small-tongue.gif

If you watched the trailer, notice the strange inclusion of Sonic CD during the montage. It seems Sega has been trying to make the fans forget about this one Sonic game that Sonic Team didn't make. No Sonic CD on Sonic Mega Collection plus? For shame!

Its still too early to tell if this will restore or destroy 'Sonic's' good grace, even though he's not starring in it. But I agree this is their last chance. Even Sonic heads like me aren't going to buy ok-mediocre games forever....

On the bright side, I don't think Shadow will be shooting hookers. face-icon-small-wink.gif

Ian SaneMarch 08, 2005

If this was still the era of the Genesis when Sonic was good I would think the idea of having a game focused on a supporting character would be kind of cool. Sonic & Knuckles for example was great so if Shadow existed in 1994 Shadow the Hedgehog would probably be a pretty cool game. Of course back then Shadow would have likely been a more likable character.

My biggest problem with this is that Sonic Team STILL has not delivered a good 3D Sonic game. Sonic Adventure 1 & 2 were okay. Realistically they could have been improved on and eventually a decent 3D Sonic could have been made. But instead of trying to improve Sonic Team has just tried to disguise the games faults by trying to change Sonic into something else. Instead of fixing Sonic Heroes they just added multiple characters. And now instead of fixing Sonic they're just going with a different main character and adding guns. Either put in the effort to make a good 3D Sonic or don't bother making the game at all.

I criticize Nintendo for making too many Mario spinoffs but at least they have not made any crappy cash-in Mario platformers. Ever since Sega got bought by Sammy they've sucked. They're not game artists anymore. This and crap like Virtua Quest and that Shenmue MMO they're making demonstrates that they're just a corporation trying to con us into buying crap because it has a familiar franchise from an era when Sega meant something. Sega Sammy might as well be the current incarnation of Atari: notable in name value only.

NotRimmerMarch 08, 2005

I hear Mario had a gun in Super Mario Sunshine

thepogaMarch 08, 2005

Has Sega even noticed that the only fun sonic levels in Sonic Adventure 2 were the traditional sonic/shadow levels? NOt the exploration, not the blasting. Why does Sega want to reinvent the way their gameplay was when they havent perfected it yet? They should release an almost perfect Sonic game. When they can't get any farther, then innovate. This change was merely for the sake of change. It looks like you just stand and shoot. Like StarFox: Assault. And it's crappy ground missions. If I do get this, I refuse to shoot with it because Shadow doesn't need a gun. He's friggin fast and can destroy things using his own strength. Why use the machinations of man? What if Batman had a gun? Batman is dark and gritty without it. He was awesome. And Shadow doesnt even look cool with the gun. It's kind of goofy looking. If they wanted to make a gameplay mechanic that involves shooting, wouldn't it have been much better if he could shoot out balls of energy a la DBZ? And it would look so much cooler too. Like Robotor said above, it feels like a really stupid joke, or a parody of games that have guns. It just feels so forced. If this came out on April Fool's day, I would've laughed at it so much. In closing, Sega should stick to the guns it had before it had to had guns.

thepogaMarch 08, 2005

Quote

Originally posted by: NotRimmer
I hear Mario had a gun in Super Mario Sunshine


The "gun" mario had actually affected the gameplay of platforming and moving. The gun Shadow has doesn't look like it can be used well while running fast. So it slows down the gameplay. It's only purpose is destroying enemies, something that he can already do well. Oh, AND boxes. The gun can also destory boxes that get in his way while running. WOW. But shouldn't he be able to do that with the SUPERSPINNINGROLL thing? Shadow can destory giant robots, but can't destroy a box.

Mario goes pretty slowly (compared to sonic) and is more thinking oriented. Sonic were all about speed and jumping on people.

One more thing about the gun. I don't like how Shadow looks like with it. It's not really him. If Sega really wanted to add a weapon I think a rocket launcher suits his style more. They really should've gotten him two beam swords and he can destroy all the stuff by running by them. If they want violence, i think a stabbing of some random guy through the chest with one of them would work. In fact, its even better than gunning him down. Swords are cooler than guns.

anubis6789March 08, 2005

Um...If anyone cares the four horesmen of the apockolypse just rode by my house.

Seriously though I just saw the trailer and it did not look THAT bad, although I do think the gun is a little to much, but besides that the game looked pretty cool. More info will need to be released before I even consider buying it though.

MaleficentOgreMarch 08, 2005

I'm sorry, sonic games should never have me shooting things. I just want to run. Just remake 1-3+knuckles in 3D. seriosuly, that's all the fans really want. we just want to run really really fast and jump. maybe float and climb a bit, possibly fly a little, but mostly just run fast. Sega, it can't be that hard to do.

pyrokamileonMarch 08, 2005

I don't know, I for one like the looks of this game. I mean no one seems to like the gun idea, understandably it doesn't really fit in. not to mention it seems that shadow mainly only shoots while standing still, I think it would be cool if he could shoot while moving, but then again so many games shy away from that, it must be hard, I guess. but maybe he can auto aim and shooting would just sort of destroy enemies before he actually runs into them? that could make the game go faster, kinda like when you have the star power, or whatever it's called, but it's just an idea. and yes he does look kinda dorky with the big gun jutting out. I think it would be cool if you didn't see it while he was running, only when he uses it. maybe he holsters it, or in some way it just dissapears until he needs it (haha, I can just see him putting it in his leg like robocop, not). I don't know, maybe he doesn't need a gun at all, I can just see him equipping some sort of visor like get up, that shoots on sight! (kinda like those old water gun toys where you shout "fire!" into the mike to make it work.) that might look cool. imagine if you ran in the third person, and have the option of going first person for shooting? eh, maybe too many ideas to fit into one game, not sure if it's very sonicky (reminds me of Silent Hill 4 where parts of the game are in first person?).
anyways, one more arguement that I have is the graphics and acting. okay firstly the graphics are fine I like then the way they are, sure they could be better, but they always can, right? what I think they need to work on more is the acting. it's really hard to stomach when the voices and lips are way off. not to mention the acting is very slow at times. I think if you run the game in japanese the lips match up better. and I think I've also heard that in japanese the timing is different, some things are slower because of what they're used to? so it seems that they never quite finish the translation to the american audience, I realize that has nothing to do with the gameplay, but I really enjoy the sonic stories and I wish they would improve that so it wouldn't be so hard to watch (it really scared me when knuckles and sonic go super and hyper, because of the motions they were making with their hands!)

CaillanMarch 08, 2005

I do not belive that anyone at Sammy or Sega holds a sincere notion that this will please anyone. Instead they expect it will be bought like the last three games, and the fact that it will be bought like the last three games is a testament to the unusual faith people still hold in Sonic.

I hope Sega finally dies properly, with its franchises. The the talent in the Sonic Team could then be dispersed throughout the industry and used for good, not evil.

BiLdItUp1March 08, 2005

You know, I was just thinking a couple of minutes ago about how little I knew about Sega's upcoming games. Then I saw this, and I was reminded why I didn't know in the first place.

KDR_11kMarch 08, 2005

And THIS is why Mario isn't shooting hookers.

A flaw with Sonic games was always that they weren't really fast, just a set of jump'n'runs with very low friction. The only fast passages were essentially cutscenes, a predetermined path you'd be flung along. Going fast was suicide because you couldn't really see where you were going. Perhaps people just have incorrect memories of the 2d Sonic games... In the end Sonic with guns is exactly what Jazz Jackrabbit was back then. With the difference that Jazz wasn't serious. And Spaz ate the dopefish.

GoldenPhoenixMarch 08, 2005

I finished watching the trailer, and boy does that gun look out of place. The game doesn't look half bad if you removed the gun, but with the gun it looks beyond cheesy and thrown in. Look's like Sega took the game advice people wanted of Nintendo with Mario to make him more "mature" and thought it was a good idea. Maybe Mario hijacking cars and negotiating drug deals is not too far down the line ::shudders::.

FFVII_Cloud StrifeMarch 09, 2005

you're not funny mod

DeguelloJeff Shirley, Staff AlumnusMarch 09, 2005

Well, I guess it is easy to identify who the furries are in this thread. face-icon-small-happy.gif

couchmonkeyMarch 09, 2005

Personally, I really liked Sonic Adventure 2 Battle (or whatever it was called on GameCube). *shrugs* it wasn't perfect, of course, but with the exception of the Knuckles-style stages I thought it had a lot of really fun action. Of course, this is coming from someone who wasn't a Sonic fan in the first place.

As for this game, on paper it sounds absolutely horrible. Ditch the main character and add guns...could it possibly sound any more desperate? But that doesn't mean it won't be good. It could turn out to be the best 3D Sonic by far...though I admit that's being optimistic. I wish Sega good luck.

Flames_of_chaosLukasz Balicki, Staff AlumnusMarch 09, 2005

Sadly I think the last Sega developed game I will buy is Puyo Pop Fever. Sonic team should focus on handhelds I suppose since it looks like 3D is not their thing. Hopefully Sonic Team can redeem themselves with Sonic DS.

FFVII_Cloud StrifeMarch 09, 2005

yea I do, I'm just defending the game. I never said Nintendo gamers suck. I AM ONE. Now stop editing my post

couchmonkeyMarch 09, 2005

Edit: Accidental double post! Updated:

Ha ha ha, the idea sounds terrible on paper and after visiting the site, it looks even worse in video form. Or IS HE???

kirby_killer_dededeMarch 09, 2005

I've been a die-hard Sonic fan for a while. I pre-ordered Sonic Heroes 6 months before it's release. Unfortunately, Sonic Heroes killed everything I ever loved about Sonic, and I finally realized SEGA/Sonic Team were milking a hedgehog like crazy.

This...I'm not sure. The trailers do look pretty sweet. And I don't think it can really be called a Sonic game with the whole shooting aspect. Sure, they're milking the series, but it's a new game that to my knowledge SEGA's never experimented with (the type of game, I mean). I think I might check it out.

This game looks like a sure one for a T rating. OMG LOL WHAT WILL THE 12 YEAR OLDS DO NOW!?

Bartman3010March 09, 2005

I still think its not a bad idea, I mean, the whole Conker fiasco is a prime example, its just dfferent to compare the two since Sonic has been around longer, and is pictured as a kid's video game hero.

I think its good for Shadow to turn into such a rebel, if they just fixed up the model, gave him a more agressive expression, and shrunk Shadow's gun, it wouldnt look as ridiculous as many have depicted.

Thats PS2 hardware for you, but oh well.

FFVII_Cloud StrifeMarch 09, 2005

there is no flame war stuff

FFVII_Cloud StrifeMarch 09, 2005

Hostile CreationMarch 09, 2005

God edited your post, FFVII, because this game is of Satan.

joshnickersonMarch 09, 2005

Quote

Originally posted by: Famicom
It's times like this I wish Ninty bought Sega at their lowest point and smacked some sense into their creative dept.


That's what my friend, a huge Sega-holic, as been saying for the past three years. Just buy Sega and put them back on whatever it was they were on when they made NiGHTS.
Is this the supposed "GC Exclusive Sonic" game that was rumored about a month or so ago? I hope not... I was actually laughing my ass off when I first saw Shadow walking towards the screen with the gun in his hand. It just looks so stupid and out of place. God, could you imagine the board meeting?

Developer: "It's gonna be like Sonic... but with a GUN!"
Sammy President: "Huh? I was too busy counting my money to listen. Uh, sure, whatever."

kirby_killer_dededeMarch 09, 2005

Sammy President: Roxy, could you get that Naka character in here?
Roxy: Yes, Mr. President.

LATER

Sammy President: You got some explaining to do bub. I was just on the PGC forums, and apparently there's some wild new game with a HOLY GOD WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?
*Naka is doing the Monkey naked*

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