Even though he was creating blue hedgehog games for the best part of fifteen years, people still assume Yuji Naka hasn't had his fill of his most famous character just yet. It turns out he has.
Speaking to Siliconera, Mr Naka said:
Right now, I want to create new things. Even if I had the opportunity to create some kind of new Sonic game I think that's best kept within Sega.
With his newest project Ivy the Kiwi? garnering praise – not least from us here at Nintendo Life – it seems Mr. Naka may finally be ready to put his hedgehog days behind him. He's known to be developing a game based on an animal he "recently saw and found interesting". Considering the success of his hedgehog, which beat the armadillo and rabbit during the concept stages, the possibilities are mouthwatering.
[source siliconera.com]
Comments 33
Good thing Shiggy isn't like this. Mario without him is a scary thought.
to be fair i am not interested in playing sonic games but i am interested in Ivy the Kiwi?
As long as he makes a Billy Hatcher sequel...were all good.
Good thing Shiggy isn't like this. Mario without him is a scary thought.
He actually doesn't participate in developing Mario games now as much as he used to. But he wouldn't turn his back on Mario. I think he enjoys playing someone else's Mario game that he hasn't had much of a hand in.
Heed the wise creator's feelings. It is time to put the hedgehog down for good.
click click
Sonic: "Wait... let's talk..."
BOOM
Sonic is now officially done with without Yuji Naka
Um, Yugi Naka hasn't been involved with any Sonic games for years, probably part of the reason for Sonic's decline after the Adventure duology.
@Crystalking18
Ditto. Sonic won't live on successfully after Colors. AND I AM GLAD!!! WOO-HOO!
This isn't new.
It was a know fact that Yuji wanted to make other stuff than sonic a good bunch years.
@Crystalking18 & @labrat7
You should check your facts before say anything at all.
Yuji didn't quit Sega now.
@MrPinguy Actually, he should quit SEGA. Right now. Do you know how many good Sonic games were killed by his hands? Not to mention that he was solely responsible for the close of the STI. Screw Naka, he should go jump in a pit.
The only bad Sonic game during his time with the Sonic series was Sonic R (and Knuckles Chaotix is questionable as to being bad). He abandoned Sonic (and maybe Sega completely, or was it later that he left Sega?) after the fall of the Dreamcast.
Considering the downward spiral him and his former (Sonic Team) put the blue speed demon through ever since Sonic Adventure one I can't see how this could be seen as anything but good news. Yes I know he's on his own now, but confirming his lack of interest takes one problem out of the equation.
Hello?! Yuji Naka not being around Sonic has been one of the problems. This article is saying he's not considering coming back to Sonic. He left years ago!
Wait, I'm confused. Are we saying the decline in the Sonic games was because Yuji Naka was working on them, or because he wasn't?
@Kevohki: That's not funny...I like Sonic...
And thus begins yet another round of unnecessary Sonic hate.
WAM2, some of the others got the wrong idea that Naka is leaving Sonic Team now when he actually left years ago. Naka had nothing to do with Sonic's decline except for not being there.
I wish it didn't become "cool" to hate Sonic.
@SandMan
Another one that should check the facts too?
He quit Sega around 2006, that's what I was implying.
What a coincidence, I'm not interested in playing Sonic games!
And before anyone says anything, I've hated Sonic with a passion since it first came out and I was a Sega fanboy. Every game was the same and just should've been Sonic 1, Sonic 1b, Sonic 1c and Sonic 1.5. God I wish I could havbe a mind wipe of the 90's. Sonic represents everything horrible and disgusting about that decade. He's X-treme, dude!
@post 15. Mickeymac
"And thus begins yet another round of unnecessary Sonic hate"
And to think I almost missed it!
Sonic has sucked for over 15 years now. Ahhh, feels so much better to say that.
7/9/10: Sonic was officially confirmed dead with no possible hope for revival.
I dont think this is all true because I remember Yuji Naka him self said in a interview he would like to see sonic run about a good 50 to 100 years more.
@22
Must be old then, because he said several times since the begining of Prope that he really wanted to make "his games" (like Ivy the Kiwi?) than really continue Sonic or other Sega franchise
<i>He actually doesn't participate in developing Mario games now as much as he used to. But he wouldn't turn his back on Mario. I think he enjoys playing someone else's Mario game that he hasn't had much of a hand in.</i>
Very true. Still, he does always make sure everything's going well and not getting way off the successfullness of the Mario formula.
He also didn't participate in developing the Super Mario Land games or Link's Awakening. Not saying these are the pinnacles of their respective series or anything, but Nintendo has always had talent beyond Miyamoto but for some reason refuses to take them out of his shadow.
He also didn't help with Zelda 2 or Super Mario Brothers 2 (Japan version), and though I like both titles a lot, they're probably not the best examples as they lack general audience appeal.
Pretty confused about the Sonic hate. Everyone has a different opinion on each game, just like the Mario games.
As for the topic at hand, Naka isn't the one who "made Sonic bad" as some have said, he left way before Sonic became a milked franchise.
I think he has made the right choice though and I hope to see even more great new IPs from him.
The Fox, Sonic has only sucked for the last 6 1/2 years, dating back to when Sonic Heroes was released. Even so, there have been encouraging signs lately of a turnaround with the Rush duology, Unleashed's day stages, and now positive impressions from Sonic 4 and Colors.
Though it would be nice if he would come back and make one more sonic game its cool that he wants to do his own stuff. Lets tap was really interesting and unique. I like that he isn't afraid to try new things.
after sonic adveture dx 2 battle sonic was killed
Personally, I'm rooting for Sonic. He's still alive and kicking. His handheld outings like the Sonic Advance and Rush series have been solid, and although his 3d outings haven't been stellar in recent years, some have had hints of greatness. I think Secret Rings had a lot of missed potential as well as Unleashed. I also like how Sonic has progressed as a character. In the 90's it was just attitude, but with the cinematic side of things in recent games he's really been shown to have a serious and soft side. His character has more depth than a lot of video game stars.
@Ski-Deuce: Yeah, I like the character Sonic, too. Not just the games. I don't get some of the complaints about him, like the supporting cast (although a few characters I agree they could do without), more plot (the only thing I can guess people don't like about this is that plots weren't hardly in the 2D ones), and the rock music soundtrack (the most confusing to me. Wasn't Sonic's whole point to be "cool"?). It seems that fans, despite what they keep saying, DO have their expectations ridiculously high for each game, even if they don't realize it. Perfectly decent games are called pieces of crap (probably because Sega overhypes EVERY SINGLE GAME).
And another thing, Yuji Naka didn't say he wanted the franchise dead. He just said he wasn't interested in being involved anymore. There's a difference...I think.
Guys! He said "Right now, I want to create new things. Even if I had the opportunity to create some kind of new Sonic game I think that's best kept within Sega."
Not: "The only thing I want is that Sonic dies a slow and painful death!"
Not that I want him to say that. Go Sonic!
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