Takashi Iizuka of Sonic Team to be at Gamescom this year

[Merry Gems]

I wonder what questions will be asked?

[Jango]

Will Shadow be in Superstars?

[Merry Gems]

1 hour ago, Jango said:

Will Shadow be in Superstars?

Feel free to ask that. (Note: I know you're most likely joking, so I had to add to that)

But seriously, I saw someone ask that as one of the questions of that very Tweet I posted.

[Blue Blood]

I'd actually like to know how Frontiers and Origins, or perhaps a shift in the series' direction, influenced this game. Since around 2007/8, the series has focused almost entirely on only Sonic. Other characters have appeared in some supporting roles at most, with the exception of the plot-light Mania that simply picked up where S3K left off. Then between Origins, Frontiers, Superstars and the upcoming Frontiers update 3, there's been an very evident push to put Tails, Amy and Knuckles back in the spotlight next to Sonic. It feels like the main cast has been re-established all of a sudden. 

I'd just like to know what drove that. Obviously a 4 player co-op game is going to need to accommodate 4 players somehow but with Superstars is just feels like the next logical step considering what else the series is doing. A multiplayer Sonic game with Tails, Knuckles and especially Amy just five years ago would have the a pipe-dream at best. 

[DaBigJ]

Already left my question in the replies, more or less asking if more "obscure" characters will make a return in future Classic products if Superstars is successful

[Jango]

BTW, I imagine the chances of a pre-order trailer are high during Gamescon, considering we're basically 2/3 months from release.

[Scar]

8 hours ago, Blue Blood said:

I'd actually like to know how Frontiers and Origins, or perhaps a shift in the series' direction, influenced this game. Since around 2007/8, the series has focused almost entirely on only Sonic. Other characters have appeared in some supporting roles at most, with the exception of the plot-light Mania that simply picked up where S3K left off. Then between Origins, Frontiers, Superstars and the upcoming Frontiers update 3, there's been an very evident push to put Tails, Amy and Knuckles back in the spotlight next to Sonic. It feels like the main cast has been re-established all of a sudden. 

I'd just like to know what drove that. Obviously a 4 player co-op game is going to need to accommodate 4 players somehow but with Superstars is just feels like the next logical step considering what else the series is doing. A multiplayer Sonic game with Tails, Knuckles and especially Amy just five years ago would have the a pipe-dream at best. 

I think its because game reviewers grew up and stopped being so fucking cringe about "Hurr durr Sonic friend bad reeeeee". People realised that actually its not that bad, and that its been 20 years since Sonic Adventure.

I guess people mellowed out on the idea of Sonic's friends being present and relevant characters.

Sonic Team now need to make sure they don't fuck it up.

[Blue Blood]

1 hour ago, Scar said:

I think its because game reviewers grew up and stopped being so fucking cringe about "Hurr durr Sonic friend bad reeeeee". People realised that actually its not that bad, and that its been 20 years since Sonic Adventure.

I guess people mellowed out on the idea of Sonic's friends being present and relevant characters.

Sonic Team now need to make sure they don't fuck it up.

I mean, sure. That's the reason we ended up with Solo Sonic for so long; critics bashed the existence of an extended cast rather than the fact that the gameplay was a mess and the stories were laughable. People just said "Sonic isn't the same as it was on the Mega Drive and it's worse now". It was a case of missing the forest for the trees, with the wrong aspects being criticised. 

But that's really besides my point. I want to know why Sonic Team have decided now to re-establish a core cast of four main heroes. Ultimately we're still looking at the Classic team, and Boom tried the same thing a decade ago (Sticks seemingly being a late addition). Something must have twigged at Sonic Team to make them want to take the series in this direction. 

[Tornado]

"Now that Naka is safely behind bars, do you feel intimidated from making another bad NiGHTS game?"

[juiceDpunk983]

On 8/14/2023 at 7:35 PM, ShinyGems said:

I wonder what questions will be asked?

Is it canon

[Scar]

4 hours ago, Blue Blood said:

I mean, sure. That's the reason we ended up with Solo Sonic for so long; critics bashed the existence of an extended cast rather than the fact that the gameplay was a mess and the stories were laughable. People just said "Sonic isn't the same as it was on the Mega Drive and it's worse now". It was a case of missing the forest for the trees, with the wrong aspects being criticised. 

But that's really besides my point. I want to know why Sonic Team have decided now to re-establish a core cast of four main heroes. Ultimately we're still looking at the Classic team, and Boom tried the same thing a decade ago (Sticks seemingly being a late addition). Something must have twigged at Sonic Team to make them want to take the series in this direction. 

Less fear I suppose?

Perhaps Kishimoto just has a stronger vision for what he wants the franchise to become, which would be a welcome change. I've always said for the longest time that the series needs someone who has a clear vision for what the franchise needs to be and is willing to eat some crow to get it there, and that's what we've got. Frontiers was that marmite game, but it had a lot of heart and eventually won people over, so I guess they have more confidence to win people over with the extended cast.

Sonic, Tails, Amy and Knuckles finally felt like real characters rather than just being caricatures. I can only assume that getting Flynn involved was part of this vision to have more effort put into character writing. If the characters feel less ridiculous then people might be willing to have them around more. Also I think an "Open Zone" gameplay style definitely lends itself better to different styles of gameplay over some of the compromised experiences we had in 3D in the past. 

[mayday2592]

So is this still gonna be happening? Gamescom is almost over and I haven't seen any interviews.

[Scritch the Cat]

17 hours ago, mayday2592 said:

So is this still gonna be happening? Gamescom is almost over and I haven't seen any interviews.

I just went digging in this site specifically to see if anything came of it.  Maybe Iizuka took a wrong turn at Albuquerque.

[AdmiralJuicy]

Sega's Twitter mentioned that impressions and developer interviews are coming toon(tm)