Sonic?? Its

Out??! right?

( Edited on 20.02.2007 20:41 by MistaSergio )

I think it's out in the US today, yep, we should be seeing a coupla reviews soon. Hopefully Sega UK will get us a lil' review copy in time for the UK release next Friday!

1up seem to think it's fairly good, with a respectable 7.2
1up Review.

( Edited on 20.02.2007 20:45 by jb )

thank Jb!

looks like I'll have to wait until tomorrow to get it - it ships today - it'll be in stores tomorrow

I'm so excited - I hope its good!

I hope so, the reviews are gradually starting to filter in for the game and the general feeling is that it's not quite the best Sonic game ever yet it comes close to how people envision the series in 3D.

From what I've seen I don't think Sonic can ever go back to his roots truly anyway, but a 3D adaptation like SatSR can prove it can be done in 3D.

Adventure was good as it stuck fairly closely to the original formula, and the rest seemed to decline fairly drastically in gameplay, storyline, the whole lot. By that I don't mind if its side scrolling or third person, but I really want Sega to have their traditional 2 (or 3) act structure and a Boss, at least the Wii version seems to follow that more closely than past efforts.

One thing about Sonic in general is how people can go on that the 2D games were about pure speed. Having gone back to these games recently, there are a shit load of platforming and sections that require precise care and skill - those that say that these were about speed alone are foolish.

Anyhoo, this should hopefully be one to get - at least the general feeling is that its better than 06.

jb said:
I hope so, the reviews are gradually starting to filter in for the game and the general feeling is that its not quite the best Sonic game ever yet it comes close to how people envision the series in 3D. From what Ive seen I dont think Sonic can ever go back to his roots truly anyway, but a 3D adaptation like SatSR can prove it can be done in 3D. Adventure was good as it stuck fairly closely to the original formula, and the rest seemed to decline fairly drastically in gameplay, storyline, the whole lot. By that I dont mind if its side scrolling or third person, but I really want Sega to have their traditional 2 (or 3) act structure and a Boss, at least the Wii version seems to follow that more closely than past efforts.One thing about Sonic in general is how people can go on that the 2D games were about pure speed. Having gone back to these games recently, there are a shit load of platforming and sections that require precise care and skill - those that say that these were about speed alone are foolish.Anyhoo, this should hopefully be one to get - at least the general feeling is that its better than 06.

yeah - this one looks like its on-your-toes fast.

well I'll be one to leap before waiting to get a feel for the game via my peers here - I think and have faith it'll be a worthy Wii title.

Ah - and the bad music in the game! - that it makes it good music! haha - some of that was like Sonic Adventure [which I loved] - and the music - if heard anywhere else first - I would've hated so - I'm excited for that too

I can't wait til Tomorrow - I wish it was in stores today!

One thing about Sonic in general is how people can go on that the 2D games were about pure speed. Having gone back to these games recently, there are a shit load of platforming and sections that require precise care and skill - those that say that these were about speed alone are foolish.

Preach it brother!

Apart from select sections I never thought of Sonic as fast gameplay, action-packed and never a dull moment, but not really fast per se, there was potential for speed runs once you were good but it wasn't the core element in my opinion.

It's something I always here people mention, and sure that was Sonic's rep in comparison to Mario, but at the core of classic Sonic gameplay is great level design and fun gameplay not pure speed like some seem to suggest.

In fact I think that's one of the biggest problems with the 3D outings, the platforming dynamics just weren't tight enough, plus every other jump had an enemy you could lock onto anyway, removing any skill whatsoever!

People have it backwards I think, we don't need more 'pure speed', we need less! Better level design, trickier sections, less homing attacks across big chasms and just throw in a couple of 'hold forwards and watch things fly by' sections for adrenaline rather than a key staple in all levels.

From videos Secret Rings seems to have it backwards, lots of simple 'speedy' sections and to try and mix it up they add monotonous 'sneaking' sections that slow things down and just don't fit. That seems wrong to me, but I'll remain open minded until I play the game for myself - I know I'll enjoy it anyway but I just can't help but feel the developers are never really going to get it right again because they have the ideas wrong at a very basic level (as do many gamers it would appear).

But I'll save the rest of my ideas for that article I keep forgetting to start, tonight I shall... hopefully.

There is a good impression of the game that is given by Matt Cassamacina in this weeks Wiikly (IGN), it's a case of good news and bad news really, by the sound of things the game has a few niggles that stop it from being great, but apparently Sonic fans will love it despite. LS

Sonic is going to be really good and is one of my most auuaited game

PS-auuaited means double U

Theres all this talk about Sonic needing to go back to its 'roots', as in being more like the 2D games. I know I'm in the minority here, but my favourite Sonic game of all time is Sonic Adventure. I thought they got the formula just right there, the right combination of different gameplay styles, the storyline, the way you progress through the game and the way you see the story from the point of view of each character. The only problem with Sonic Adventure, and what put most people off, is that its very unpolished, there are lots of problems as well - but I think the game makes up for it. So I think the model for future 3D Sonic games shouldn't be the 2D games, it should be Sonic Adventure, and they should try to return to the Sonic Adventure style because it worked. I don't know to what extent the Xbox 360 game trys to do this because I haven't played it yet.

By that I don't mind if its side scrolling or third person, but I really want Sega to have their traditional 2 (or 3) act structure and a Boss, at least the Wii version seems to follow that more closely than past efforts.

Sonic Heroes thankfully didn't have some of the flaws of Adventure (imo that was the tedious treasure hunting and putting Tails in a walking tank), but I felt the 3 person switch-a-roo was terribly executed in Heroes.

*Edit*
IGN review...

6.9

( Edited on 21.02.2007 14:20 by jb )

Some more reviews have been added. check out:

The GameRankings page

The IGN review is the most negative one so far. So far the main complaints have been the music & the mini games. Not such a big problem for me.

I'll reserve judgement until I've played it, I don't trust most reviews these days.

Sonic Heroes thankfully didn't have some of the flaws of Adventure (imo that was the tedious treasure hunting and putting Tails in a walking tank), but I felt the 3 person switch-a-roo was terribly executed in Heroes.

Sonic Adventure 2 wasn't quite as good as Sonic Adventure 1 because it was more linear, there are no real adventure/exploring stages (other than the treasure hunting), and you can't choose what to do next you just have to follow the story (but the levels themselves were good). So in my mind the original Sonic Adventure style exploring between levels is the best format, and not the traditional 2 acts and a boss, it also let you see the story from different characters perspectives which I think worked really well.

Sonic Heroes was everything the Sonic Adventure games weren't. The Sonic Adventures were rough around the edges, awful to look at, but somehow still really good. Sonic Heroes was polished, great presentation, - it ticks all the boxes, and is a good game in theory, but just not that fun. Just to mention Shadow the Hedgehog, for completeness, few people bought it because everyone told them it was awful... I don't think it was awful, its not the best but its better than Heroes. Lots of technical problems with it though, like the Sonic Adventure games, but there are some good ideas in there as well and some good levels (but the quality is variable).

( Edited on 21.02.2007 16:23 by beamrider2600 )

The new Sonic on 360's problem is that there's so much exploration, the path is very hard to find, & it's hard to move on. The town stages are especially huge & annoying, what's worse is the loading times.

ONM has given Sonic Wii a great score of 81%.

I've only played the demo of the 360 Sonic and did not like it at all. This game looks at lot better.

beamrider2600 said:
Theres all this talk about Sonic needing to go back to its roots, as in being more like the 2D games. I know Im in the minority here, but my favourite Sonic game of all time is Sonic Adventure. I thought they got the formula just right there, the right combination of different gameplay styles, the storyline, the way you progress through the game and the way you see the story from the point of view of each character. The only problem with Sonic Adventure, and what put most people off, is that its very unpolished, there are lots of problems as well - but I think the game makes up for it. So I think the model for future 3D Sonic games shouldnt be the 2D games, it should be Sonic Adventure, and they should try to return to the Sonic Adventure style because it worked. I dont know to what extent the Xbox 360 game trys to do this because I havent played it yet.

By that I dont mind if its side scrolling or third person, but I really want Sega to have their traditional 2 (or 3) act structure and a Boss, at least the Wii version seems to follow that more closely than past efforts.

Thats what Sonic Heroes did. Of course that was hardly the best Sonic game (lots of good ideas, nice presentation for once, but it just didnt work overall).

sargent hammy said:

beamrider2600 said:Theres all this talk about Sonic needing to go back to its roots, as in being more like the 2D games. I know Im in the minority here, but my favourite Sonic game of all time is Sonic Adventure. I thought they got the formula just right there, the right combination of different gameplay styles, the storyline, the way you progress through the game and the way you see the story from the point of view of each character. The only problem with Sonic Adventure, and what put most people off, is that its very unpolished, there are lots of problems as well - but I think the game makes up for it. So I think the model for future 3D Sonic games shouldnt be the 2D games, it should be Sonic Adventure, and they should try to return to the Sonic Adventure style because it worked. I dont know to what extent the Xbox 360 game trys to do this because I havent played it yet.

By that I dont mind if its side scrolling or third person, but I really want Sega to have their traditional 2 (or 3) act structure and a Boss, at least the Wii version seems to follow that more closely than past efforts.

Thats what Sonic Heroes did. Of course that was hardly the best Sonic game (lots of good ideas, nice presentation for once, but it just didnt work overall).

hey beam! you dont seem to post sometimes.

What?

jb said:
One thing about Sonic in general is how people can go on that the 2D games were about pure speed. Having gone back to these games recently, there are a shit load of platforming and sections that require precise care and skill - those that say that these were about speed alone are foolish.

Sonic 1 was slow. However 2, 3, and Knuckles were some of the fastest games out.

What Sega have been missing is the awesome level design, who here remembers the closing wall on Hydrocity II, the Metropolis cogs and above all, the Ledge Jump on Wing Fortress? Sonic was cleverer than people gave it credit for, because it was so fast, nobody remembers the awesomeness that is more subtle.

I am going to get this sucker today! SO excited!

Lightmare said:
Sonic 1 was slow. However 2, 3, and Knuckles were some of the fastest games out.What Sega have been missing is the awesome level design, who here remembers the closing wall on Hydrocity II, the Metropolis cogs and above all, the Ledge Jump on Wing Fortress? Sonic was cleverer than people gave it credit for, because it was so fast, nobody remembers the awesomeness that is more subtle.

( Edited on 21.02.2007 23:08 by beamrider2600 )

My god Sonic Criticism is starting to get confusing.

Sonic Adventure 2 was linear? Yeah if you focus on the story. Go into Stage Select and it's true strength shines through as you have many more missions with complete freedom to pick which ones you choose. Story was linear but getting all 180 emblems was far from it.

If you haven't got all 180 emblems you have no right to judge SA2 as getting all 180 sums up what's great about 3D Sonic. It's like judging a book after reading only the first chapter.

The ability to learn and master any level you originally could barely get past the first time you played it. Then to take those skills and adapt them to any situation within the game. Something it relates a lot to racing games with, hence why it's speed is so important. No-one likes a slow racer hence why Sonic style gameplay wouldn't work slowed down.

This is true for Sonic Heroes (though they took the number of missions down and made the teams share levels)

And Shadow the Hedgehog.

And Sonic 360 (which I would like to point out brought back the pointless adventure stages and even gave them a point in the form of town stages, and was still universally panned).

And I'm betting Sonic and the Secret Rings too. One line in ONM's summed it up for me. Difficult controls but the more you play the more you get into it and becomes much more fun (or something like that).

So you're going to hate this, sorry! Because that is true for all 3D Sonics and they are universally panned. Seriously I don't get what's changed besides being on rails. Perhaps people are just so sick of seeing all the support characters a pure Sonic is a breath of fresh air so can forgive it more or something. Or Maybe it just doesn't take forever for it all to click like the examples above do.

Have ONM reviewed it yet?

IGNORE above 8.1 isn't that good of a score on ONM, they over rate nearly ever game.

( Edited on 22.02.2007 00:01 by Hulkamania )

My god Sonic Criticism is starting to get confusing.

Sonic Adventure 2 was linear? Yeah if you focus on the story. Go into Stage Select and it's true strength shines through as you have many more missions with complete freedom to pick which ones you choose. Story was linear but getting all 180 emblems was far from it.

If you haven't got all 180 emblems you have no right to judge SA2 as getting all 180 sums up what's great about 3D Sonic. It's like judging a book after reading only the first chapter.

Oh lord - I have the game and I think its awesome - the only real drawback I have with it is the backstepping --

even tho when you "backstep" - you know what you just past - is it really that hard to:

a) have the option of mapping the back stepping to happen via a button instead of pulling back on the WiiMote

b) have the camera swing around and show whats behind sonic - I mean - its build is like a racer but when you reverse in a racer - you don't have ememies and whatnot behind you

but you adjust to this - and backstepping becomes less of an issue - its just a clear spot that should be improved on.

overall - I love the game!

This game is split up on the same stage - into missions - similar to the way Super Mario 64 was build - Starting with a level thats a complete run-thru the level - cept' it'll start you in different sections of the level and end at different spots - depending on the mission.

I do believe if you're a Sonic fan - you should add about 1.5 points to any score [like IGN's for example] to understand how you'll like it -- The game gets FAST and its awesome to really go speed thru the worlds. And with the depth that the "skills" Sonic gets - it makes you feel the improvement as time and exp is gained. Also, this game rewards the "hardcore gamer" with the skills earned as well as some of the missions in the game - really design for those who are going to sit down and learn the game. Remember getting all 120 stars in Mario 64? Not for the casual gamer at all - but this has that same similar feel to it.

I do see the risk they took making this one and I believe it was well worth it. Using the WiiMote to do most of the actions and moving away from the buttons - I support the way that is being done. It makes one think "why not give us the option?!" but I think that we cannot move forward in game design without the want to move in this direction. But c'mon ! can I see whats behind me next time Sega? Thanks in advance!

I'm saying buy it - its worth it!