Topic: Episodic Sonic Games?

I loved the vid, gonna be a good buy (since I'm not really into WiiWare).

_{I used New Hope because it's a return to old-school 2D, which the fans have been clamoring for for a long time, so it's new hope for their dying franchise...}

Yours is good too, I guess, pixel.

Oh yes, yours was deep, Feenie. In fact, I just cried a little.

I'd imagine if Megaman 9 was subtitled "Episode One" and Megaman 10 was called "Megaman 9: Episode Two" that there would be crys of disgust rather than of joy here on NintendoLife despite them being the same games other than the titles.

I don't get the big deal with people being against "episodes". If you like the game then you get several similar Wiiware games that you'll also like. If you try Episode 1 and don't like it or are content with just that one, you don't have to buy the whole thing. And if you don't like it, then don't buy any of it. If I enjoy playing a game so much that I want more of it then I would find that these episodic games to be great. For example, I enjoyed The After Years. Each chapter was worth the amount of points I paid.

If each episode is a full stand alone game like Sonic 3, like dude said above, I'm down. The trailer looks decent, but I am weary that the true "speed" isn't there. I for one, prefered Sonic 2 over Sonic 1 because it felt faster. The trailer gave the impression the speed is closer to Sonic 1. But then again, it is only a trailer.... but one wonders....

Otherwise, I think this is another very bad move by Sega.

And even if it is a full, stand alone game, why wouln't they do it on disc? Same content charging 50 bucks for it instead of the $10-$15 they probably will charge as a downloadable? Seems like a business no-brainer to me. Alot of "casual" gamers would easily pick this up at the store as soon as they saw the "Sonic" name. That's why this whole thing is reaking the stench of a full game split into 5 pieces or so, having each episode as a $10 download. I assume the publishing costs are lower for a downloadable and they are trying to overly maximize profits.

I hope I'm wrong, but if they do that they have just screwed everything up again. I feel bad for Sonic, dude deserves better.

A side note: Could you IMAGINE Nintendo having released NSMBW as an "episode" downloadable game? Nintendo hasn't released a SINGLE real mario game for WiiWARE because they don't have to. And this is Nintendo we're talking about, the company that franchises the heck out of it's brands. Yet, they know they will sell just the same, if not more, with a physical copy.

As excited as I am for seeing Sonic, this is another case of Sega following Nintendo's trend but trying to inovate an unecessary part of it. 2d gaming? Great! Episodes? Boooo!

Well, if the naming is all, it's good. Mega Man 9 is a full fledged game, as Mega Man 10 will be, so if Mega Man 10 was to be named Mega Man 9, episode 2 there wouldn't be the same concern.

The problem with episodes is the content is often split into episodes instead of multiplied. And that's the concern and angst amond some people, myself included.

Yes but we don't know how long each chapter is.for what it costs. People are kneejerk reacting to the word 'episode' alone.

Does anyone else think Sega could possibly make the episodes similar to Sonic 3 and Knuckles, in terms of being able to combine the episodes to unlock extra content?

Erm Sonic and Knuckles is coming to VC Europe next week!!!!!

That will probably depend on file size, the 40mb limit might make it impossible, but who knows how it will all work in the end, think they will be effectively stand alone myself.

I'm willing to pay for 5 Episodes since Platform games are worth (In my Opinion) $50 dollars, based on other Games who took this approached my guess it's the first Episode is for 1000 Nintendo Points (aka $10) all i want to know will this finally revive Sonic or Destroy all hope in excistend.

It makes total sense to me to release it in episodic download content. One of the main reasons the 3D titles have been packed with non-traditional content (like the Werehog) is because if the game featured the same amount of levels but as all Sonic, it'd be awesome but over within a couple of hours.
Sonic covers a lot of ground quickly, it's both his trademark and his level designer's nightmare - being completely traditional on a disk release would mean either a huge amount of levels that would push development time back to sometime next year, absolutely vast maps to lengthen levels (which would kinda suck - how much would you have to love Green Hill Zone to be willing to spend upwards of 15 minutes ploughing through one act? And then there's the fact that some poor soul at Sega has to design the whole damn thing first), or, as they have done in the past, find a slower-paced gimmick and abuse cutscenes to spread the main content around so that the final game is of acceptable length.

I don't disagree with you.

Case in point, I would have still gotten Sonic Unleashed had it just been the day stages. They were THAT good. And with the various "goals" you had to achieve, it lengthened the stages without making them bigger. (If anything, most of the "goals" involved playing over a small chunk of the day stage, not even the whole thing.)

So, the question isn't rather Sonic can maintain a large play-time design. It can't. And that's totaly ok when the gameplay is awesome. (Sonic 2 and 3 are very quick to go through, and that's fine; that doesn't make them any less good games because of the length.)

Say Sonic 4 comes out and it has about half the content of the day stages of Sonic Unleashed at $10 a pop? That's great, and in many ways a steal! But say they take the amount of day stage content of Sonic Unleashed and divide it by 5... then release in episodes? That would suck. I agree that Sonic can't be too big due to the logistics of level design, but too small and it would kill the fun.

Sonic 3, for example, gets better when you are about half-way and you get in gear. Same with Sonic 2. There's got to be enough content for a steady progression.

Yup, I would expect Sonic 4 to take around the same time to complete as the original games, and since we expect release games to be much bigger than that nowadays, download is the only market that makes sense in this day and age.

Here's Gamespot's interview with the developer of Sonic 4. I walked away from this feeling much better about the game.

GameSpot: Why did you choose to go with a title like Sonic 4? Does this mean this is a direct sequel to the Genesis games?

Ken Balough: I think one aspect to keep in mind is this game is truly a labor of love. A lot of us grew up on the Sega Genesis console; in fact, I remember vividly the first day I got mine with Revenge of Shinobi and Moonwalker. Ever since Sonic & Knuckles, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 has been a game classic Sega fans have always wanted to see. It was the right people, at the right time, getting together and finally making this game we've all wanted to see.

While the game is a brand-new adventure, it will definitely pick up after Sonic & Knuckles. However, what you are looking at is the beginning of a new story arc.

GS: The subtitle is Episode 1. Does this mean it's episodic content?

KB: As mentioned, I think the best way to view it is as a first part in a much larger adventure. When Sega released Sonic 3, ultimately it was the part 1 of a story that saw its conclusion in Sonic & Knuckles. In that same spirit, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is a bigger story, and this is that first chapter. I think it's also safe to say that by the end of the episode one, fans will be very excited to see what's in store for episode two!

GS: Why did you decide to make this a downloadable title?

KB: In recent years, we've seen a huge surge of classic game properties making a return in this arena. [Downloadable] games offer players a chance to play terrific games without breaking the bank. It's also a promise to Sonic fans. We're going to deliver a Genesis-era Sonic game as if it were created today that goes to the core of what classic Sonic fans desire. This means [the fan] gets to judge us on our work each step of the way, and we plan on delivering that goal in a big way.

GS: In terms of graphics, the game appears to use 3D graphics. Why take that route instead of an HD makeover or a more traditional approach like Capcom's recent Mega Man games?

KB: One of our goals was to make a gorgeous-looking 2D Sonic game. This approach allows fans new and old to see what a 2D Genesis-style game would look like today with modern graphics.

GS: As far as gameplay goes, should we expect classic old-school Sonic 2D mechanics or something new added into the mix?

KB: All the Sonic favorites [are] here for sure! Spin dash, power sneakers, etc. But you will also see the homing attack added, and in true Sonic fashion, you can compete with your friends for the fastest level times through leaderboards.

GS: What can we expect from the music? Will it sound like the old Sonic games?

KB: It will sound like an evolution from the original series. Expect to hear very familiar tempos and styles of music that resonates with 16-bit games but also has a modern appeal.

GS: Will there be any differences between the different versions? That is, will the Wii have motion control, or will the PS3 and 360 run at 1080p?

KB: For all intents and purposes, the games are designed to be identical. There are a few differences per what each console can output visually: Wii will be at 480p, while the XBLA and PSN versions will run at 1080p. However, for certain areas of the game, the Wii will be able to use motion control, and the PS3 will be able to use the Sixaxis.

GS: Is this where the Sonic franchise is moving, or can we still expect to see console and portable titles?

KB: Sonic as a brand is definitely not moving away from our packaged console versions. Making Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I for download is just a new way to offer a great Sonic experience through a different medium.

GS: Thanks for your time, Ken.

As long as the whole game is about as long as Sonic 3 & Knuckles or longer, I don't care about it being released in episodes.

This sounds like the type of episodic gaming I can handle.

Maybe instead of episodes, the next episode should have been called "Sonic & Knuckles 2" (assuming it has Knuckles in).

The official site ( http://www.sonicthehedgehog4.com ) updated within the lastcouple of hours with our first taster of the storyline:

Sonic and Tails secure the Master Emerald and return it to Knuckles on Angel Island. With it's power restored, the Angel Island lifts off into the sky as Sonic and Tails fly off into the sunset.

But this humiliating defeat only serves to further Eggman's rage, and he has determined once and for all to rid himself of Sonic. Eggman revisits - and improves - the very best of his creations to defeat our spiked hero.

And so a new Adventure begins...

So, who's this revisited greatest creation? I'm placing my bets (and hopes) firmly on a certain Mr Metal Sonic.

_{Also inb4 BAAAW HE'S NOT CALLED ROBOTNIK}

EDIT: Also nice to see that Eggman Robotnik Eggman Robotnik (sorry my brain is arguing with itself on that one) is focused on kicking Sonic's ass again rather than messing around with Gaia Manuscripts or whatever historical nonsense he can get his hands on.

Well, you know. Its the same with Princess Toadstool being reverted back to the original Japanese name.

Personally, I prefer Toadstool and Robotnik.