SEGA of America hosted a special livestream recently, the first Sonic Official stream of this year, where some of their team discussed Sonic-related news. Aaron Webber was there to answer questions from fans in the chat, with one of the most popular ones being why it's been so long since there was a new Sonic game announcement or reveal trailer. Webber's response was that SEGA used to release Sonic titles on a yearly basis, but the company decided that they no longer wanted to rush games out, and made the choice to give each game a longer development cycle. He also says that the team is incredibly excited about what's in store, but they can't say anything more at this time. The last time a mainline 3D console Sonic the Hedgehog game released was Sonic Forces, back in 2017.

Source (response is at 14-minute mark)

 

[EPgrouch]

the last sonic games I played sonic boom and the last one released on ps2(I can't remember the name of it) neither one was all that good. I really liked sonic 3d on genesis and adventure 2(never played 1) I wouldn't be opposed to another adventure 2 styled game.
but maybe they should think outside the platformer box and try something like an rpg or something similar to tails adventure.

 

[Pokemon_Tea_Sea_Jee]

I mean... momentum based platforming CAN work. Y'all are forgetting that the only "speedy" part of sonic was the rampant advertising about him being FAST!! And maybe some speed sections too. But it's more of a momentum based platformer than anything- There are too many examples in the classic games where you need good momentum in order to do certain things, need momentum to roll (and even then you can't just roll on random, you need a good slope to gain more speed), need momentum to loop, need momentum to cross steep slopes, need speed to reach far platforms, ya see what i mean here? Heck, Mario had this! All platformers do. Sonic just took it to the extreme.
The big problem is modern sonic THREW that out the window for some godforsaken reason and just gave you fast at the push of a button. Granted, you needed rings (and in later entries/colors, wisp energy) but this is fuckin sonic we're talking about here, they're littered across the goddamn level. Thus it became more of a quick-run reaction based platformer. testing your reflexes and how good they are inorder to get through most levels quickly- It's still a good idea for a platformer, don't get me wrong- but that completely missed the point of the original games. (Plus, Forces didn't even get this right)

The real reason then is that the game designers at Sega are bad, and Sega caring about quantity and profits without regarding preservation of quality.

I really really like what you typed. I agree with it all. If the people who make 3D Super Mario platformers made a 3D Sonic platformer, taking into account your messages as well as mine, that could really be a good game.

They should take note from Super Mario 64 as well as Rayman 3.

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but maybe they should think outside the platformer box and try something like an rpg

 

[RadioShadow]

Sega can make finally make a good Sonic game!

 

[mightymuffy]

it won't work. just transfer all control of sonic over to whitehead he is the only one who knows how to make a proper sonic game

This. I don't care what/where he's working now - give him the character, tell him we want Mania 2 ...and fukk everything else. Mania aside, Generations was ALMOST good, and the All-Stars Racing don't count: the only really great Sonic game since CD was NiGHTS. Sonic is not a platform game, it's a high-score-beating, 2D side on racing game. Trying to make it a Mario game doesn't work, and never will..

 

[DS1]

Uhh no that's not like that
DKC is way more a mario game than any thing tbh- ive played lots of it and your speed is generally pretty locked- rolling through enemies doesn't increase your speed wherein sonic it does. By that logic Super Mario Odyssey is a momentum based platformer like sonic because there's a roll ability. (that doesn't even hurt enemies)
DKC is more just normal mario platforming with a 3d CGI skin slapped on it- most of the level design is very flat like sonic which has twists and turns everywhere. Plus the physics are wildly different between games- DKC is more grounded and Marioish in nature while sonic is more momentum and speed based- the physics found in sonic were wildly different at the time compared to what had been seen before in platformers

I’m positive it increases your speed, this is how people speed run the game: https://dkcspeedruns.com/DKC_Tricks

I think the only reason people don’t think of it that way is that it wasn’t baked into the marketing - people think of DK as slow, but it was a revolution in momentum based platforming.

 

[EPgrouch]

The real reason then is that the game designers at Sega are bad, and Sega caring about quantity and profits without regarding preservation of quality.

I really really like what you typed. I agree with it all. If the people who make 3D Super Mario platformers made a 3D Sonic platformer, taking into account your messages as well as mine, that could really be a good game.

They should take note from Super Mario 64 as well as Rayman 3.

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did not know about that game I think I'll look into it.

 

[the_randomizer]

it was less the fact that they weren't very polished and more the fact they shouldve been on the saturn

It doesn't help that the Saturn was a nightmare to develop for, not to mention Sega's piss poor decision to use quads instead of triangles for the graphics processor. That, and launching it earlier than it was supposed in the US, angering retailers like KB Toys.

 

[64bitmodels]

I’m positive it increases your speed, this is how people speed run the game: https://dkcspeedruns.com/DKC_Tricks
I think the only reason people don’t think of it that way is that it wasn’t baked into the marketing - people think of DK as slow, but it was a revolution in momentum based platforming.

Huh, what do you know
Didn't really notice that in the game when i played it- then again i don't really play it often.
Even then these are mostly speedrunning tactics- not something a player would notice instantly, and not something that's required to beat the game unlike the Sonic games. Even then Sonic has way better speedrunning potential IMO. DKC has jumps that are optimized for both ways you approach them, either through jumping while running normally, or by rolling with increased speed to jump. Sonic has shortcuts that essentially require good momentum or bust. They're not littered everywhere, but there are ones that save a shitload of time. for instance, this skip right here
I haven't really seen anything of this sort located in DKC. Sonic's level design may suck big hairy balls when it comes to enemy placement, but it makes up for that with ingenius stuff like this. Plus the fact that the level design is way more open than anything really found in DKC, which makes for cool skips like this to happen
I like DKC, don't get me wrong, but for completely different reasons than you do.
compared to sonic, both of these games are so wildly different it'd be hard to put them together. weird comparison tbh
Also, slightly off topic but summoning salt is awesome and i command you to go watch his channel right now- the way he talks about his speedruns gets me so hype.
EDIT: Fucking youtube with its share system. for the example i posted above skip to 2:53

It doesn't help that the Saturn was a nightmare to develop for, not to mention Sega's piss poor decision to use quads instead of triangles for the graphics processor. That, and launching it earlier than it was supposed in the US, angering retailers like KB Toys.

Sega during this period was really trying to kill their console market werent they....

 

[64bitmodels]

i think sonic games are hard to translate to 3D, even the fan projects that are considered better than the official games, have it's flaws, sonic have a lot with speed and momentum and stuff like that, maybe it's hard or maybe no one had a good idea on how to make it work properly, also, some people said that part of this time was into developing the hedghog engine 2 but still, i don't think sega or sonic team can have good ideas

Sonic Utopia :3
The engine is there, it's more about getting the level design right. Most of the enemy placement problems from the original 2d games would be absolutely eliminated in 3d since you can see literally everything and anything in front of you.
I mean after all the main reason Mario games are so good is because the concept is so simple. Nintendo doesn't need to try and make levels that compliment Sonic's speed, because Mario's speed is locked (with the exception of Odyssey) so they focus more on making the levels as unique as possible. If it were sonic they'd have to think more about how to make sonic's physics matter and not be a crutch to normal level design. TBH even if nintendo did get the rights to sonic i doubt they'd make something downright amazing.
To put it simply, nintendo's strengths are more in making simple platformers with more unique and varied level design and gimmicks. Sonic is a complex platformer with complex level design and varied level design and gimmicks.. Nintendo needs to make the levels compliment sonic's speed while being able to make them unique and varied. i doubt they could do that IMO

 

[XDel]

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha....

...a little bit late.

 

[Jonna]

Sonic Utopia :3
The engine is there, it's more about getting the level design right. Most of the enemy placement problems from the original 2d games would be absolutely eliminated in 3d since you can see literally everything and anything in front of you.
I mean after all the main reason Mario games are so good is because the concept is so simple. Nintendo doesn't need to try and make levels that compliment Sonic's speed, because Mario's speed is locked (with the exception of Odyssey) so they focus more on making the levels as unique as possible. If it were sonic they'd have to think more about how to make sonic's physics matter and not be a crutch to normal level design. TBH even if nintendo did get the rights to sonic i doubt they'd make something downright amazing.
To put it simply, nintendo's strengths are more in making simple platformers with more unique and varied level design and gimmicks. Sonic is a complex platformer with complex level design and varied level design and gimmicks.. Nintendo needs to make the levels compliment sonic's speed while being able to make them unique and varied. i doubt they could do that IMO

Yes, trying to get higher and higher and reach more out of reach areas by building momentum and giving you that control is what makes playing these over and over so fun, even if the area is small. This is what a Sonic game should be, in my opinion, not a QTE flurry of jump and boost to get through.

 

[SexiestManAlive]

There never was there isn't and there never will be anything such as a good sonic game. Period.

i'm gonna have to respectively disagree with that statement chief, sonic mania is fucking sex.

 

[64bitmodels]

Yes, trying to get higher and higher and reach more out of reach areas by building momentum and giving you that control is what makes playing these over and over so fun, even if the area is small. This is what a Sonic game should be, in my opinion, not a QTE flurry of jump and boost to get through.

Worst thing you can do in a sonic game if you're experienced and know the level design is to play it the normal way.
Classic Sonic rewards experimenting with physics to get good shortcuts, or reach new areas. Jumping off a random slope, or using your momentum to reach an unseen platform can reward you, whether it be through invincibility, a new area to explore, a checkpoint, or more rings. Sonic's levels are pretty open for a reason- maximized speedrun potential. Don't play Aquatic Ruin the way you've known all the time, try jumping to another area! you could find some secret that could change the way you play drastically =)
Worst thing you can do in a sonic game if you DON'T know the level design is to try and be speedy all the time. Spindashing in places where there's no slope, trying to jump where you shouldn't. et cetera. if you see a straight line ahead of you, it might be because there's an enemy up ahead. if you see a slope of any kind, go ahead and spindash. Either it's a regular enemy that you'll probably blaze through, or a speed section. this way when you're revisiting the game you'll remember the places with enemies and the places with none

 

[BlueFox gui]

Sonic Utopia :3
The engine is there, it's more about getting the level design right. Most of the enemy placement problems from the original 2d games would be absolutely eliminated in 3d since you can see literally everything and anything in front of you.
I mean after all the main reason Mario games are so good is because the concept is so simple. Nintendo doesn't need to try and make levels that compliment Sonic's speed, because Mario's speed is locked (with the exception of Odyssey) so they focus more on making the levels as unique as possible. If it were sonic they'd have to think more about how to make sonic's physics matter and not be a crutch to normal level design. TBH even if nintendo did get the rights to sonic i doubt they'd make something downright amazing.
To put it simply, nintendo's strengths are more in making simple platformers with more unique and varied level design and gimmicks. Sonic is a complex platformer with complex level design and varied level design and gimmicks.. Nintendo needs to make the levels compliment sonic's speed while being able to make them unique and varied. i doubt they could do that IMO

i was going to talk about sonic utopia but i think people talk about it too much, sonic utopia feels great, but that kind of level design is still the problem, i know the game is a demo but there's no reason to explore, and sonic games are all about going fast through the level and ye i though about 3d mario games too, mario is more simple,

 

[DiJornios]

4 years to develop forces and it was mediocre at best lmao

 

[Jonna]

i'm gonna have to respectively disagree with that statement chief, sonic mania is fucking sex.

Username checks out.

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i was going to talk about sonic utopia but i think people talk about it too much, sonic utopia feels great, but that kind of level design is still the problem, i know the game is a demo but there's no reason to explore, and sonic games are all about going fast through the level and ye i though about 3d mario games too, mario is more simple,

Could use a tad more more speed, but otherwise it's got the speed and momentum - we're trying to step away from the "just GO GO GO YOU ARE SO FAST YOU CAN'T EVEN TELL WHAT'S COMING UP" mentality the recent games are familiar with and don't make the game fun to do anything other than hold forward and press jump occasionally.

In terms of exploring, there's not much incentive to explore on that because it's a concept demo. If it evolved into a full fledged game, there would be more to the levels, with secrets and other rewards put in several places in the level (see: SRB2).

 

[StrayGuitarist]

that's how sonic games are supposed to be. you can always cheat

I can. But I’d rather just go play something that doesn’t piss me off by design.

 

[Shape]

Yes and make her black.

Her name's "Shadow".

 

[Captain_N]

lol sega... you should follow nintendo's quality examples. Look at super mario Odyssey.

 

[Quarions]

lol sega... you should follow nintendo's quality examples. Look at super mario Odyssey.

Lmao do you know that the people who made SMO and Zelda BoTW were with Sonic Team back in 2010/2008, they are the same who made Generation and Unleashed.

Even Epic Games are better than Nintendo at this point.

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4 years to develop forces and it was mediocre at best lmao

1 year*

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The people here are very ignorant, what did i expect it's a Pro Nintendo website it's obviously full of dumb kids.