Nintendo Power : Sonic Colors Almost Plays Like Sonic Unleashed - Sonic Teams Wants to use the Crazy Level Design from the old games+2 Zones confirmed

[Badnik Zero]

Looks like Sonic Rush 3 is getting thrown under the bus for this, which is……. Disappointing.

Because you want to see Blaze? Because her aside, this looks just like Sonic Rush 3 in style. I'm excited because it is Rush 3!

Agreed on the planet. Earth is in nearly every screenshot, like all the great Sonic space levels.

[Sega DogTagz]

Because you want to see Blaze? Because her aside, this looks just like Sonic Rush 3 in style. I'm excited because it is Rush 3!

Agreed on the planet. Earth is in nearly every screenshot, like all the great Sonic space levels.

The lack of Blaze would certainly be one reason. Another would be the missed opportunity to take the natural progression of the Rush series and play in multiple dimensions simultaneously. As a gameplay mechanic, I was interested in how they could implement a real time shift or the like. Also, we really learned a ton from the Rush storyline(s).

But, it could still happen. So I refuse to cry over milk that hasn’t been spilled yet. The 3DS is still technically a DS, so maybe the Rush series still has some legs under it.

Edited June 2, 2010 by Gallia

[Badnik Zero]

^ No doubt it does. It's extremely successful and Colors will be the second game not named Rush to borrow the boost gimmick.

[CrownSlayers Shadow]

So if the guy on the forums was right...what exactly is there about Shadow and Knuckles role in the plot? Or was that just a small mention by Nintendo Power?

Either way, this game looks like it's shaping up on the good side so far. But the images...you know what, I'm not even going to worry about it. I'll still remain cautious of this game until I see it in action.

The laser abilities looks really cool tho.

[Saint Nathan]

If anything I say they should keep whoever is handling artistic direction for the games, they look fantastic and add a whole lot to the charm and aesthetics to the game. So hoping for a Haunted level and a Ruin level of sorts...

But Dusk! Then it would be copying Super Mario Galaxy again!

no seriously when the next level is shown and it's a lava level that's all we'll hear.

[Agent York]

But Dusk! Then it would be copying Super Mario Galaxy again!

no seriously when the next level is shown and it's a lava level that's all we'll hear.

Honestly I thought the haunted levels in Galaxy were terrible...

So hopefully worlds better than those. But I mean, I predict we'll be hearing it for a while but Mario was not the first to have food-themed worlds nor haunted levels, but comparisons are bound to happen.

[Phos]

Well, by most people, you mean yourself right? 'cause I think most people really liked the day-stages, it's the werefuck they didn't like.

Then again, you're the kinda fan who thinks it prerequisite to pretty much see the worst in ANY new Sonic game. Which is fine, based on the crap we've been given. But this is perfect. Think about it: in 2D, you do classic platforming, but in 3D, you race to the finish at high-speeds a la Unleashed. It's melding the best of what works for each specific "dimension", so to speak. It's great! I just hope Sonic Team doesn't botch the execution, that's my main concern.

but I don't know what you're seeing that I don't. There's no werehog, no sword, no M16, no Trunks Dr. Who Neo Silver... it's just Sonic with some clever power-ups. If you hate that concept (just the concept, mind you), than you are impossible to please.

I don't mind the concept (Aside from them once again having to leave Sonic's world to give him interesting environments), it's just when I see that little ribbon of land that going straight ahead, bypassing basically everything. Lets take the shots in the magazine, for example. I see what looks like some sort of food factory and some sort of casino looking thing. How can I tell? Because there are big crucibles in the background of the factory level and neon lights in the Casio level. Are these levels going to give you a Casio or factory vibe any other way? Outside of a maybe a random casino game, probably nothing. What is Sonic doing? Running straight ahead.

Yasuhara made Casino Night Zone distinct from all the other levels by turning the whole place into a giant casino themed pinball table where every route was the scenic route. Metropolis Zone was a sprawling factory where you might be propelled into the air by pistons, ride giant moving platforms mounted to giant cranks, trigger extending platforms, go through giant rotating mesh tubes. Smaller versions of these are actually in factories. I think the springs in the walls that bounce you back and forth are based on those vibrating sorting trays seen in factories as well.

Basically what I'm driving at here is that these levels don't appear to involve much interaction and are probably all going to end up playing like variants of the same hot wheels track.

You know what? Instead of "lol let's grind on rails for a while!", how about you come upon a giant stack or pancakes that aren't stacked very well, forming a maple syrup waterfall, on the way down try and get to a square of butter on the way down to avoid being stuck at the bottom or run over some enemies or something. While crossing a giant creme brulee, you are harassed by submersible badniks jumping from under the crust. Dive into a particularly carbonated drink, and be carried up inside one of the bubbles. For a boss battle, Eggman is cooking a giant cake, and starts out on a big pile of flower, with eggman throwing eggs. Then he starts mixing it, the dough is thick enough enough to walk on but you are drawn towards the Eggmobile, so avoid it. the battle proceeds with something else for a bit (too hot in an oven to keep the cake involved), then Eggman starts chasing you with a curtain of icing.

I came up with that in like 20 minutes. Still missing miniature reoccurring gimmicks, apart from the fizzy drink.

[Doctor MK]

Hurray! Finally we see some scans, albeit fairly low quality ones. I am pleased to know that the game will basically be a souped-up version of Unleashed Wii daytime and Sonic Rush 3. So far, I can't find any real way of faulting the game. You're doing good, SEGA!

Hopefully we'll get some full, high quality scans soon (plus the ONM preview in a couple of weeks) and we'll find out some actual info about the game.

[Candescence]

Dammit, don't get hyped, don't get hyped...

SCREW IT. Visually, it looks beautiful despite the low-quality scans, though higher-quality stuff will be needed before I can make a complete judgement.

Gameplay-wise, Unleashed-style was sadly expected, I would've prefered them to go back to the Secret Rings style. Regardless... Hopefully it's more like the Wii version of Unleashed than the 360/PS3, because I really do not want to experience the horrid level design of the HD versions again. DS version being essentially Sonic Rush 3, however, will be awesome, but the lack of Blaze will drag it down somewhat for me, she's a good deal part of why I like those games.

Edited June 2, 2010 by Masaru Daimon

[EXshad]

I don't mind the concept (Aside from them once again having to leave Sonic's world to give him interesting environments), it's just when I see that little ribbon of land that going straight ahead, bypassing basically everything. Lets take the shots in the magazine, for example. I see what looks like some sort of food factory and some sort of casino looking thing. How can I tell? Because there are big crucibles in the background of the factory level and neon lights in the Casio level. Are these levels going to give you a Casio or factory vibe any other way? Outside of a maybe a random casino game, probably nothing. What is Sonic doing? Running straight ahead.

Yasuhara made Casino Night Zone distinct from all the other levels by turning the whole place into a giant casino themed pinball table where every route was the scenic route. Metropolis Zone was a sprawling factory where you might be propelled into the air by pistons, ride giant moving platforms mounted to giant cranks, trigger extending platforms, go through giant rotating mesh tubes. Smaller versions of these are actually in factories. I think the springs in the walls that bounce you back and forth are based on those vibrating sorting trays seen in factories as well.

Basically what I'm driving at here is that these levels don't appear to involve much interaction and are probably all going to end up playing like variants of the same hot wheels track.

You know what? Instead of "lol let's grind on rails for a while!", how about you come upon a giant stack or pancakes that aren't stacked very well, forming a maple syrup waterfall, on the way down try and get to a square of butter on the way down to avoid being stuck at the bottom or run over some enemies or something. While crossing a giant creme brulee, you are harassed by submersible badniks jumping from under the crust. Dive into a particularly carbonated drink, and be carried up inside one of the bubbles. For a boss battle, Eggman is cooking a giant cake, and starts out on a big pile of flower, with eggman throwing eggs. Then he starts mixing it, the dough is thick enough enough to walk on but you are drawn towards the Eggmobile, so avoid it. the battle proceeds with something else for a bit (too hot in an oven to keep the cake involved), then Eggman starts chasing you with a curtain of icing.

I came up with that in like 20 minutes. Still missing miniature reoccurring gimmicks, apart from the fizzy drink.

That's actually a good point dude, but how do you know we WON'T see gimmicks like that? So far, we only have a few gimmicks to go by, perhaps maybe, like in the classic games, each level with have their own unique functions? I mean, Sonic Team DID mention how they want to use crazy designs like the classic games.

Granted, the stuff you posted seems kinda extreme, but I'm still hopeful we'll see some clever stuff. This game sounds surprisingly... perfect, to me. Which is weird, considering before we heard anything more than the teaser, I was expecting the worst.

Edited June 2, 2010 by EXshad

[Agent York]

That's actually a good point dude, but how do you know we WON'T see gimmicks like that? So far, we only have a few gimmicks to go by, perhaps maybe, like in the classic games, each level with have their own unique functions? I mean, Sonic Team DID mention how they want to use crazy designs like the classic games.

Granted, the stuff you posted seems kinda extreme, but I'm still hopeful we'll see some clever stuff. This game sounds surprisingly... perfect, to me. Which is weird, considering before we heard anything more than the teaser, I was expecting the worst.

I'm in the same boat, Sonic 4 will be fun I know just a Sonic the Hedgehog 4 wasn't the #1 thing on my list, I have been looking forward to a Sonic game with lots of the merits this one is providing. As such, this game holds a lot of weight with me and I worry that something-or-another will mess it up, but so far so good. There is not a single thing I am upset with so far. The graphics, unless something different in high resolution, look actually really good for the Wii. The worlds don't look empty they actually look like they have a lot of artistic detail and it's evident there's a lot more to do in them than Unleashed Wii with a lot bigger emphasis on platforming. I saw some quick on your feet puzzle work, interesting enemy selection, and I completely accept the Sonic Unleashed 2 and Sonic Rush 3 with the changes in style they so far are doing to give better use to the boost gauge instead of "LOL RUN FAST" sacrificing actual platforming for it. More so, the game has an emphasis on Sonic, Tails, and Eggman, Eggmanland returns with bigger emphasis and might live up to great potential instead of just being a bit frustrating, it just seems like SEGA with this and Sonic 4 have done some major thinking and overhauling in their down time and between this, Sonic 4, and Sonic 4's delay time to work on it, seem to actually be trying and is something which I haven't been able to say for a while and there's so far nothing that looks iffy to me, not a game that is trying to change the series forever but accepting it for what it is I believe may be a pretty good game that has a lot that appeals to me personally. We'll see more soon though.

[Frozen Nitrogen]

Dammit, don't get hyped, don't get hyped...

SCREW IT.

Hello? Cycle?

The fact that people are declaring themselves hyped is utterly amazing and baffling. I could understand it if this entire process hadn't been proven again and again and again and again, but it has. This same thing happens every goddam time.

I will confess that the allegation of surrealism is enticing, but to get your hopes up before you actually sit down with the game in your hand is an egregious piece of self-deciet and a refusal to learn from history.

Edited June 2, 2010 by Frozen Nitrogen

[Candescence]

Hello? Cycle?

Sorry, calming down now. I'll keep my hype levels under control now. It's mostly the visuals I'm hyped for, though. Gameplay? Not so much, considering the bad choice of template. For one version, anyway...

Edited June 2, 2010 by Masaru Daimon

[Saint Nathan]

Hello? Cycle?

The fact that people are declaring themselves hyped is utterly amazing and baffling. I could understand it if this entire process hadn't been proven again and again and again and again, but it has. This same thing happens every goddam time.

I will confess that the allegation of surrealism is enticing, but to get your hopes up before you actually sit down with the game in your hand is an egregious piece of self-deciet and a refusal to learn from history.

Well, here's the great thing about that.

one, you are an incredibly pessimistic person, no offence, about literally everything.

two, it already has been broken.

See? We got friends before screenshots. Oh, not to mention there have been no playable friends since fucking '06, it's obviously going to play like unleashed/seekret rings since the beginning, and the Cycle has been wrong about mostly everything except reviews, which are horribly biased anyways. Oh hey, I'm predicting this won't get the best reviews!

oh wait, no i'm not, it's fucking obvious.

(also i'm just saying it's broken, don't rely on it. i'm actually incredibly unhyped about this and prolly won't be for a while so i'm not really defending it, just debunking this shit.)

[Carbo]

Sonic Cycle is a load of crock shit because every single time it gets brought up it's already broken by displaying pessimism.

[speedfreak]

The Sonic cycle is stupid because it's too specific. If should be simplified to "New Sonic game announced > Fans let themselves believe this is finally the one > game releases and turns out to be shit yet again." That would be much more accurate. I'm not saying it will be shit though. I never like to completely write anything off. However you people who are saying it looks better then Galaxy from grainy scans and swearing that this will be great and they can't possibly mess up this time are fooling yourselves IMO. While I agree Frozen Nitrogen can be overly negative when it comes to new games I do think he has a point about everyone falling into "the cycle" yet again. How about we actually wait to see some footage before we talk about how great and perfect Sonic Colors will be.

[Vic Boss]

Hello? Cycle?

The fact that people are declaring themselves hyped is utterly amazing and baffling. I could understand it if this entire process hadn't been proven again and again and again and again, but it has. This same thing happens every goddam time.

I will confess that the allegation of surrealism is enticing, but to get your hopes up before you actually sit down with the game in your hand is an egregious piece of self-deciet and a refusal to learn from history.

You talk as if everyone feels the same way. If this is like Sonic Unleashed and Sonic Rush, then I'll be pretty excited to play it because I enjoyed those games.

[Detective Shadzter]

If this younger crowd focused game turns out to be as awesome as it looks and gets critical acclaim then everytime a new Sonic game is due for development I'm going to send Helen Lovejoy to SEGA's offices before any poorly crafted dark and edgy game idea is conceived.

Tell 'em Helen!!

[Indigo Rush]

It's not even a logical cycle. It's a series of events. There's nothing at the end that makes it loop back to the first part, so even the use of a repeating graph of this sort doesn't apply to the implied circumstance of low quality Sonic games, which even then only applied to about two to three games in itself, the rest being obvious from the start or actually playing well according to the general market, barring the old-school-only fans, who only want the series to stay where it's at, rather than see steps made to propel Sonic into a newer generation to where he'll be more well received among a general crowd in the now, rather than in the past.

Granted, New Super Mario Bros. Wii shows that even old school can sell and top the charts, but hey, even Mario had to switch to 3D, and it worked the first time. It just didn't work for Sonic, so rather than stay with what didn't work, they're trying something different, in this case, a more speed-based and on rails experience which has been an overall praise for the series so far. Of course SEGA isn't going to go back to Adventure when the daytime levels in Unleashed and high speed escapades of Rush are giving them so much cash!

[Shaddix Leto Croft]

Sonic Cycle is a load of crap and needs to have a word filter cause it's a dirty word in the Sonic Commiunty and trolls and fans like Frozen use to put down upcoming releases what looks great (that how I see it) :|

anyway as long this story for this game is tight,funny and goofy and has awesome gameplay I couldsee myself playing this game everyday (e.g Sonic Unleashed, I was on that almost everyday on the Day stages so awesome and fun)

Edited June 2, 2010 by Crash

[Swiss]

Loving the look of the new screens, I'm just hoping there'll be enough variety in the levels...Sonic games have hardly ever had that problem though, so I'm not too worried.

And I thought that cycle got boring practically as soon as it was made...what's the point in bringing it up, especially with Colours as sweet F.A applies to it.

[Hero of Legend]

Yeah, even I'm getting sick of it. It was funny back in 2008, it's not so now.

[psikeout]

But Dusk! Then it would be copying Super Mario Galaxy again!

no seriously when the next level is shown and it's a lava level that's all we'll hear.

I just skimmed this thread after having not seen it at all, and whether or not you mean to, you make yourself sound kinda butthurt about this. Just FYI, nothing personal, etc., your sarcasm's just a little heavy and wounded.

I mean, seriously. I'm not trying to start crap here, but it's a Sonic platformer that takes place exclusively in space immediately following the completion of a mega-hit Mario platformer that does the same thing, which Sonic Team doubtlessly knew was in development for some time. There is nothing else needed for anyone with the most elementary powers of observation to draw at least some obvious parallels; having a drill item/power only quirks the proverbial eyebrow ever higher.

Do I care that it's probably borrowing some elements from a specific, successful Mario game? No, because I think it'll probably make it turn out better. Maybe some of that Mario mojo will rub off! Then again, I might be letting the fun of one game hype a similar game farther than it should. There's nothing to say Sega can successfully pull off Nintendo quality merely by borrowing a few themes. But I'm reeeeally hopin'.

[Frozen Nitrogen]

Yeah, even I'm getting sick of it. It was funny back in 2008, it's not so now.

I concur entirely; it isn't funny and I am sick of it.

But sadly, unpleasant facts don't go away just because we dislike them.

I'm not trying to troll or say bawwwww this is doomed from the start everything is awful, but try to maintain some perspective here people, rather than instantly declaring "OMG AWESUM" and "TRIUMPHANT RETURN" based off a few low-quality magazine photos, as seems to be occuring.

We know how this goes; we have seen the inexorable progression innumerable times in the last seven years. So just think a little bit before you run off squee-ing over "Orbinauts" and "Surreal Zones" and whatnot, for god's sake.

[spiny blue]

i think this game is based of merging sonic speed with some new power ups and platforming in speed.

hmmm still haven't see any robots in this game.

can't wait for E3. will some one be able to upload a video and play test this game and sonic colors?