Sonic Boom Screenshot Thread *page 6* "Don't Cross the Ender-Beams"

[Barry the Nomad]

 

Knuckles wearing pants!

[Blue Blood]

Yeah, they did say they tried putting the characters in clothes first before Sonic Team vetoed that choice. That will likely be the only time we get a look at what they were thinking of.

[Barry the Nomad]

Yeah, they did say they tried putting the characters in clothes first before Sonic Team vetoed that choice. That will likely be the only time we get a look at what they were thinking of.

 

Tails looks to have shorts and Sonic might have a vest, hard to tell.

[Vertekins]

Character art:

For the love of God I hope they don't morph Tails into an unlikable obnoxiously bratty half-pint. I haven't been entirely down with Tails' snark in recent main series games but I could tolerate it. I hope this series doesn't take that trait and blow it out of all proportion.

[SilentDoom]

For the love of God I hope they don't morph Tails into an unlikable obnoxiously bratty half-pint. I haven't been entirely down with Tails' snark in recent main series games but I could tolerate it. I hope this series doesn't take that trait and blow it out of all proportion.

 

It's a generic expression chart.  I wouldn't read too deeply into it personally.

[VO.SUPER]

To be perfectly honest. I like the pants on Knuckles; they seem to fit his larger body better.

[DarkLight]

Though seeing Sonic make a lustful expression like he does in his expression sheet would be hilarious....

 

just jk.

[Blue Blood]

It's a generic expression chart.  I wouldn't read too deeply into it personally.

I agree, but do bear this in mind:

"[Tails] still has that brotherly sort of relationship with Sonic, but he's not afraid to tell Sonic that he's wrong whenever that happens." - Stephen Frost.

If he's like he is in Colours, I'm totally fine with that. But Lost World made him into a bit of an unlikeable arse.

[Amomynous]

 

World:

 

These concept arts are just glorious, where are they from? I may be slightly skeptical of the style but I must admit I'm extremely glad to see a Sonic game churn out the scenery porn again.

[Diogenes]

For the love of God I hope they don't morph Tails into an unlikable obnoxiously bratty half-pint. I haven't been entirely down with Tails' snark in recent main series games but I could tolerate it. I hope this series doesn't take that trait and blow it out of all proportion.

I really don't know how you can get "unlikable obnoxiously bratty half-pint" out of an expression sheet showing a wide variety of emotions.

 

I swear, I still don't get the complaints about Tails in SLoW. It's one of the most complex and interesting portrayals he's had in the games, matching or even exceeding SA, but all people seem to take from it is that he got upset and maybe wasn't 100% justified so he's ruined forever.

[Willsy]

That concept art is gorgeous. This world is so much more original and interesting than The Lost Hex, and it looks like they will develop it better too. Colour me excited!

[Vertekins]

I really don't know how you can get "unlikable obnoxiously bratty half-pint" out of an expression sheet showing a wide variety of emotions.

 

Right. Because as a sheet that is supposed to guide animators on how to express characteristic emotion in a specific character, it's impossible to see shades of 'obnoxious bratty half-pint' in half of them such as this?;

 

 

This?;

 

 

And this?;

 

 

Accompanied by the quote from one of the developers stating that Tails is effectively going to act like Sonic's critic, this is where I'm inclined to get the interpretation and hence concern that Tails is going to be characterized as some kind of character who may very well come-off as obnoxious in his upholding of these traits.

 

I swear, I still don't get the complaints about Tails in SLoW. It's one of the most complex and interesting portrayals he's had in the games, matching or even exceeding SA, but all people seem to take from it is that he got upset and maybe wasn't 100% justified so he's ruined forever.

 

I haven't seen one fan yet who even holds staunch criticism for Tails' SLW portrayal claim that he's ruined forever.

[Soniman]

I just see a Tails who's able to display more emotions then just ":D". And all the developers said that Tails won't be afraid to tell Sonic when he's wrong, as well as he should, since Sonic has a tendency to think before he acts

[Blue Blood]

Right. Because as a sheet that is supposed to guide animators on how to express characteristic emotion in a specific character, it's impossible to see shades of 'obnoxious bratty half-pint' in half of them such as this?;

Like Dio said, they're supposed to show off a range of emotions, regardless of whether or not they'e actually used. But at the same time, we have the finalised 2D concept art of Tails looking less than impressed. Smarmy and sarcastic can really suit Tails so long as they're not over done. I share your worry at this stage, but right now I have to be honest and say I'm expecting all the characters will be enjoyable and likeable, even if not the way we'd necessarily want them to be portrayed.

 

I haven't seen one fan yet who even holds staunch criticism for Tails' SLW portrayal claim that he's ruined forever.

Hyperbole.

[Indigo Rush]

The overtly negative and downright paranoid criticisms towards Tails' portrayal and actual believable development in recent games has done more to cheese me off than anything else in the history of this entire message board, and that says a lot. He may not be as likable as we remember him, nor was his development executed flawlessly, but at least he's interesting and relatable. 

 

But that's for another topic entirely, and I'm not quite in the mood to write a long paper about this.

[Nepenthe]

Tails' being upset in SLoW had very little build-up or sense which made him seem like he exploded at Sonic for little reason (especially since he started the fight with Eggman in the first place that led to said argument with Sonic), he continued his pissy attitude throughout the game until he got captured whereupon he basically waived away every problem in the game with a toothpick and some typing skills, and he never apologized to Sonic for his role in the fallout of the relationship. Fuck SLoW Tails.

 

I liked his Colors characterization much better, or at least the circumstances under which he was characterized. He could still be snarky and joke around towards both Eggman and Sonic, be the butt of a joke himself, take some hits, and be of general assistance, but he simply wasn't as bratty. I don't mind the character having some teeth or being "interesting" and flawed, but that doesn't mean the current characterization being as such makes it perfect either.

[Diogenes]

Right. Because as a sheet that is supposed to guide animators on how to express characteristic emotion in a specific character, it's impossible to see shades of 'obnoxious bratty half-pint' in half of them such as this?;

*snipsnipsnip*

Well, yeah. Unless any kind of "negative" expression automatically throws him into "bratty half-pint" territory.

It's like people have this visceral reaction to the idea that Tails might not be all smiles and sunshine all the time. We don't even know what he's reacting to (rather, he isn't reacting to anything in particular, since these were presumably made entirely devoid of context), but somehow him being mad is cause for concern?

Accompanied by the quote from one of the developers stating that Tails is effectively going to act like Sonic's critic,

To me that doesn't read as much more than him not being a sycophant. Is Tails supposed to not point out when Sonic's wrong? Is it crossing a line for him to be a little sarcastic or frustrated or...anything that's not "golly gee, Sonic! I'm sure you'll get them next time!" ...well, apparently it is for some people, considering the reactions to SLoW, but I can't see how avoiding that is anything but a recipe for an emotionally crippled character. 

I haven't seen one fan yet who even holds staunch criticism for Tails' SLW portrayal claim that he's ruined forever.

Hyperbole...

[Soniman]

Tails' being upset in SLoW had very little build-up or sense which made him seem like he exploded at Sonic for little reason (especially since he started the fight with Eggman in the first place that led to said argument with Sonic), he continued his pissy attitude throughout the game until he got captured whereupon he basically waived away every problem in the game with a toothpick and some typing skills, and he never apologized to Sonic for his role in the fallout of the relationship. Fuck SLoW Tails.

 

Except there was never a point where Tails "continued to act pissy" after that point where it started and it's a very major reason why I just do not get where the immense hatred is coming from. There was that scene where he tried to fix Cubot and got chewed out by Sonic for it, but it wasn't even about Tails' attitude as he sincerely states he was just trying to help. He's then taken away from Sonic for the rest of the game (after trying to save his life, what an asshole right?) and they reconcile right after. Because the strain between Sonic and Tails never escalated past the first scene it was introduced in.

[Indigo Rush]

Except there was never a point where Tails "continued to act pissy" after that point where it started and it's a very major reason why I just do not get where the immense hatred is coming from. There was that scene where he tried to fix Cubot and got chewed out by Sonic for it, but it wasn't even about Tails' attitude as he sincerely states he was just trying to help. He's then taken away from Sonic for the rest of the game (after trying to save his life, what an asshole right?) and they reconcile right after. Because the strain between Sonic and Tails never escalated past the first scene it was introduced in.

Basically this.

 

A lot of members here love to point out those moments where Tails acts like an 8 year old kid who gets angry and jealous and forget those moments where he acts like an 8 year old kid who gets insecure and kind-natured. Basically, Tails is acting like a more believable kid in SLW. 

 

Sonic Lost World's characterization wasn't written perfectly, but at least give it credit where it's due. He may have been angry and bratty at some points, but never mean-spirited and spiteful. I read SLW Tails as a kid who genuinely wants to help, but feels threatened, to the point of coming to irrational conclusions. Like any regular kid does. Just because he's a genius doesn't mean he isn't fallible when it comes to reading people's intentions. 

 

With that, I'm glad that the writers for Sonic Boom will be continuing Tails in this direction. I'm so tired of the way Tails used to be written.

[Nepenthe]

Except there was never a point where Tails "continued to act pissy" after that point where it started and it's a very major reason why I just do not get where the immense hatred is coming from. There was that scene where he tried to fix Cubot and got chewed out by Sonic for it, but it wasn't even about Tails' attitude as he sincerely states he was just trying to help.

The very beginning of that scene has him hurl sarcasm at Eggman without much prompting aside from Orbot and Cubot interacting with each other (not even paying attention to him), and it's almost certainly motivated by the fact that he was feeling replaced as per the scene where he went off. I consider that being pissy.

 

He's then taken away from Sonic for the rest of the game (after trying to save his life, what an asshole right?)

Eggman's helped save the world before; guess that waives away all his personal faults and mistakes.

 

and they reconcile right after. Because the strain between Sonic and Tails never escalated past the first scene it was introduced in.

Specifically, you mean Tails accepted Sonic's apology after the behavior I outlined. What a heartwarming reconciliation.

 

~

 

Also, disagreement on the likability of Tails' portrayal in SLoW does not mean one wants him to be an infallible genius. I don't even mind him getting into arguments with Sonic. I just don't think they wrote the proceeding events in the best way possible and thus he comes off a little badly for it. Shoot me for having a different opinion.

[Jovahexeon Jax Joranvexeon]

 

Eggman's helped save the world before; guess that waives away all his personal faults and mistakes.

 

 

Eggman's doomed the world plenty times, which Tails has NOT done. Are we honestly trying to compare the heroic 8-year-old side-kick to the evil, egotistical and selfish mustachioed mad man?

[Indigo Rush]

Eggman's helped save the world before; guess that waives away all his personal faults and mistakes.

...I'm actually surprised that you'd use this as a retort.

 

Eggman saved the world because doing so would ensure another day to build Eggmanland.

 

Tails saved Sonic because he's his best friend, and even if they're having a go at each other they'd never wish harm on one another.

[Jovahexeon Jax Joranvexeon]

The very beginning of that scene has him hurl sarcasm at Eggman without much prompting aside from Orbot and Cubot interacting with each other (not even paying attention to him), and it's almost certainly motivated by the fact that he was feeling replaced as per the scene where he went off. I consider that being pissy.

"Pissy" maybe, but still not outside the character bounds of someone like Tails

[Nepenthe]

Eggman's doomed the world plenty times, which Tails has NOT done. Are we honestly trying to compare the 8-year-old side-kick to the mustachioed mad man?

 

...I'm actually surprised that you'd use this as a retort.

 

Eggman saved the world because doing so would ensure another day to build Eggmanland.

 

Tails saved Sonic because he's his best friend, and even if they're having a go at each other they'd never wish harm on one another.

 

The point of the comparison was that a good deed does not necessarily waive away the right to criticize a character's faults in the same story. Is it a good thing that Tails took the hit for Sonic? Of course it is. But the proceeding question then is how is that even relevant to him being annoying in other instances of the story? It's not, especially when the point in contention we have right now actually has nothing to do with whether or not Tails is a good person or whether or not he was capable of sacrificing himself for Sonic.

 

"Pissy" maybe, but still not outside the character bounds of someone like Tails

 

Didn't say it was outside of character bounds. I said it was pissy. Thank you for agreeing?

[Diogenes]

I'll agree that there are parts of SLoW that could have been better written, but not in a way that reflects badly on Tails or makes him seem like a jerk. Like, yeah, there probably should have been another scene between Eggman joining them and Tails snapping at him where they showed that Tails wasn't comfortable with it, and it might've been better if the apology at the end was more mutual, but I still find Tails far more sympathetic than not.

Also, I much prefer them trying to write an interesting character and falling short in a few spots as compared to not failing at all because they didn't even try. SLoW's handling of Tails may not be perfect but I still see it as a huge improvement over him being a lifeless tagalong like he was in earlier games.