Here is an idea of mine for mixing classic and modern Sonic gameplay.

[Merry Gems]

I have this idea for a modern take on classic Sonic's gameplay I would like to share with you all. Basically, this idea would be suitable for both classic and modern 2D Sonic, but is meant for classic Sonic gameplay wise, and still have most of classic Sonic's gameplay ideals intact. So with further ado, here is the idea.

This classic style gameplay would have a very fast top speed, one that is a percentage of the boost from the boost games, but not quite there. The boost itself would not be featured in this classic style of gameplay, but there could still be boost mode from Sonic Advance 2. This style would also have a longer acceleration for Sonic to reach top speed, but since his top speed is near boost level, he can already be moving fast even midway through acceleration. The levels are a bit longer, but there would not be more empty hallways. It would still be like the level design of the classics, and there would be more pathways, obstacles and things to interact with to fill in the longer space. Speed would still be a reward to the player, but the speed granted as a reward would be faster than the speed as a reward in the classic games, but not uncontrollable, but enough to give some kind of thrill like the boost games like Sonic Unleashed did, at least for me. There would still be many platforming sections too, not to leave them out, and you would still have to slow down at certain times to make it through. The spin dash would be a bit more powerful, but nowhere as powerful in Sonic Generations' classic levels, but would be done to accommodate for the higher speed. With the higher speed, Sonic could run through not just one, but three loops next to each other, all without the need for a dash pad. Sonic also jumps farther when fast enough, but can be controlled somewhat and can't be abused. This would all be done with an engine that can handle the fast gameplay. Overall, this would be like classic gameplay, but quite faster to accommodate for today's technology. The physics would be like in the classic games as well. And it would still be 2D.

So, what do you all think? Please feel free to add some feedback to this idea.

[Sega DogTagz]

Just going to nitpick somethings. Just because I can.

 

1 hour ago, CrystalStorm51 said:

With the higher speed, Sonic could run through not just one, but three loops next to each other, all without the need for a dash pad.

 

Well, see your missing out on one of the basic principles of momentum here. If Sonic is fast enough to run through one loop, then all things being equal he should be able to run through 100 loops right next to each other. The speed he picks up on the downward swing of each loop would be enough to propel him up and over the next loop in the line, repeat x infinity.

You don't need to compensate for it with a higher top speed. Physics is cool like that.

 

not sure anyone would ever want three loops back to back, but whatever.

 

1 hour ago, CrystalStorm51 said:

This would all be done with an engine like the Hedgehog Engine or the Hedgehog Engine 2.0.

 

You do realize that the HedgehogEngine is a graphics engine and has noting to do with gameplay aside from making everything look pretty.

[Merry Gems]

25 minutes ago, Sega DogTagz said:

You do realize that the HedgehogEngine is a graphics engine and has noting to do with gameplay aside from making everything look pretty.

If I recall correctly, and I could be wrong, but, the Hedgehog engine was built to handle the high speeds of the boost gameplay, or so I heard. So you see, it is not a gameplay thing the Hedgehog engine is for, provided that I heard right about what the Hedgehog engine does.

[Sega DogTagz]

12 minutes ago, CrystalStorm51 said:

If I recall correctly, and I could be wrong, but, the Hedgehog engine was built to handle the high speeds of the boost gameplay, or so I heard. So you see, it is not a gameplay thing the Hedgehog engine is for, provided that I heard right about what the Hedgehog engine does.

You heard right, but you misunderstood what you heard. It is still just a graphics engine.

There aren't to many games on the shelves that do what Sonic Unleashed did back in the day. They specifically designed the Hedgehog Engine to be able to mimic global illumination techniques (i.e. fancy graphics and shading) and other neat graphics tricks for a gameplay style that was constantly loading in new assets ahead of Sonic. Most engines only load in and texture-ize only so far as the field of vision can see. When you see pop-up, that's a failure of the graphics engine to load in and assemble what is ahead of you. For a character as fast of Sonic, that field of vision can span several hundred feet per second. A normal graphics engine would melt trying to keep ahead of him.

The Hedgehog Engine is a graphics engine that was specifically designed to be able to keep ahead of the pace. It does so by "cheating" a bit. Pre-baking in renders and what-not; but it has proven to be effective at its job. It has nothing to do with the Gameplay or the Physics or any of that. The sole purpose of the Hedgehog Engine is to load in assets and make them look pretty as Sonic blazes by. Yes, it was designed to handle Unleashed's high speed. But only the graphics side of the equation.

 

Sonic Team was really proud of the Hedgehog engine and loved to show it off. You can probably still find a bunch of tech demo's on YouTube if you are interested in learning what it does.

[Merry Gems]

I see. Still, either way, I am sure the idea of mine and its fast-paced-ness could be done without the Hedgehog Engine. I am sure it could still work IF it were given proper care and effort.