2D Sonic the Hedgehog Races into 2010!

[Rock Raiyu]

It appears that Sega may actually have been listening. After years and years of (mostly) awful 3D Sonic games, the company is now teasing something called "Project Needlemouse", billed as a return to the Sonic of old.

"Old-school Sonic fans have long asked to see Sonic return to a more 2D style of gameplay" says Sega of America's Ken Balough. "Many liked the daytime stages in Unleashed, but wanted to see a game that plays purely similar to the early games of the Genesis. Project Needlemouse is that critical first step that brings Sonic back to his 2D roots."

The teaser clip's tagline reads "Speed returns, in an all new 2D adventure built from the ground up", with Balough confirming the game will, rather than be a retro-remake, be an all-new game built in HD.

It'll be out in 2010. No word on platforms, but the "HD" bit certainly narrows it down. What do you think, Sega fans? Do you dare to hope?

News Source: Kotaku




Some of the GameSpot Interview...


QUOTEGS: Why did Sega decide to bring Sonic back to 2D? Did the success of Sonic Rush and Sonic Rush Adventure play a part?

KB: Old-school Sonic fans have long asked to see Sonic return to a more 2D style of gameplay. Many liked the daytime stages in Unleashed, but wanted to see a game that plays purely similar to the early games of the Genesis. Project Needlemouse is that critical first step that brings Sonic back to his 2D roots.

GS: What can you tell us about the game?

KB: I can tell you it’s a brand new 2D adventure coming out in 2010, it’s in HD, and to definitely stay tuned.

GS: With HD makeovers of classic games being popular right now, can we expect the game to use chunky old school sprites or hi-res HD sprites?

KB: You can definitely expect HD graphics.

No clue what console it will be on. More of the interview here!

News Source: GoNintendo

 

[Omega_2]

About fucking time, Sega.
Nice seeing, more info Raiyu.
Been wondering when and if sega was planning on ignoring us old school peeps forever.
But the rumors from a few weeks ago were hinting at this, so here's hoping.

Reason for edit: Forgot to misuse that comma, find it if you dare >:}

 

[anaxs]

awesome
some pretty interesting news, il research on it further cuz sonic is pretty fun at times

 

[Crass]

Sonic Rush 3 please or GTFO.

Sonic Unleashed would have been so much better if they just stuck to the daytime missions with Sonic only. Not only do they need to return to their 2d roots, but also kill off all the annoying characters.

 

[Omega_2]

Sonic Rush 3 please or GTFO.

Sonic Unleashed would have been so much better if they just stuck to the daytime missions with Sonic only. Not only do they need to return to their 2d roots, but also kill off all the annoying characters.

And watch them introduce Tailsko XD
I don't think the world can handle that, right?

 

[Synchromatic]

pleasedon'tscrewuppleasedon'tscrewuppleasedon'tscrewup.

I want to play a good Sonic with no swords or werehedgehogs. D:

 

[Vidboy10]

 

[ojsinnerz.]

I don't give a shit. Just let him fucking die already. Sonic's lead a good life, but he's dead in my heart.

 

[shadow1w2]

Hopefully they won't let the company Dimps do the level design again.
Their level design got worse as they went from Sonic Advance up to Rush Adventure.
Its all about running really fast, so no giant walls, no jumps into giant walls that make you wait, no blocky floors, instead smooth hills to run along, very minimum use of pits of death, very minimum use of "DONT RUN HERE!" platforms, especially ones over a pit of death, special stages, super sonic, and hell, throw all the 20+ chars in it just for the hell of it (with their own super forms :3 ). Don't give em all their own stages, 16 stages or so would be fine enough, just as long as they all RUN on them.

Ya, I have a lot of issues with newer 2D sonic games.
Somehow I doubt it'll really be over the top but it can't be all that bad at least.

I'm gonna take a stab at it and guess that its gonna be a downloadable title. Wiiware, PSN, Xbox Live Arcade, PC versions, etc.

I'm not gonna get my hopes up, but it'll be nice to see a decent sonic game again.

 

[Hop2089]

It's about time Sega got back to their senses, now Sega needs to deliver what we all asked for all these years ago and don't disappoint with the next Sonic game.

 

[Spikey]

Hopefully this cycle doesn't continue here.

 

[Vidboy10]

Spikey, where on earth did you find that epic image?

 

[luke_c]

I don't give a shit. Just let him fucking die already. Sonic's lead a good life, but he's dead in my heart.

 

[geminisama]

Hopefully this cycle doesn't continue here.

So true. If it's a solid 2D platformer, without two dozen lame ass friends, I might actually get it. 2D Sonic will always be better than those piece of shit 3D games post-Adventure 2.

 

[SonicRax]

... I'm happy now. But I really do hope they don't ruin this somehow, like they did with Unleashed. ¬¬

 

[pieman202]

even though he would never fit into 2D sonic it'd be nice to see silver again T_T
his levels were the best in sonic the hedgehog despite the game's bad points.

 

[Cablephish]

I'm glad they're making more new from the old. Megaman did it and they succeeded. As long as they follow the formula for a 2-D Sonic game, everything will be juuuust fine.

Also wouldn't mind getting this as a downloadable game.

 

[CockroachMan]

The latest Sonic games aren't bad just because it's 3D. The Dreamcast games were good being 3D. Mario, Metroid, Bionic Commando are still great being 3D. SEGA just don't know how to handle Sonic anymore.. I won't get my hopes high until I see at least some footage of it.

 

[RupeeClock]

As soon as I saw "Speed returns" in the trailer, my heart sank.
Sega don't get what made the original games so much fun, I'm deeply worried they're going to get it wrong, again.

And it's as if you guys paid ZERO ATTENTION TO THE ADVANCE AND RUSH GAMES.

 

[granville]

Take this with a HUGE grain of salt, but this was posted on a website called www.needlemouse.com

It's said to be concept art, but its just a rumor right now.

http://www.needlemouse.com/
http://gonintendo.com/viewstory.php?id=96020